The Kerala High Court on Friday restrained the Public Works Department (PWD) from allowing the current contractor to collect toll from motorists on the Kundannoor bridge connecting Willingdon Island with the Kochi Bypass from July 1.
Justice P.B. Suresh Kumar directed the PWD to furnish the year-wise details of toll collection at the toll booth since 2000.
The court also ordered the PWD not to raise toll charges pending the disposal of a writ petition.
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The interim directives were issued on a writ petition filed by Toll Virudha Samara Sahaya Samithi. According to the petitioner, the PWD was contemplating allowing the present contractor to collect toll till a new tender was floated. The smithi said it was illegal and arbitrary, and that such a move was intended only to help the contractor.
The petitioner pointed out that it had been published on the PWD website that the government had decided to increase toll charges by 100 per cent.