The Madras High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking directions against respondent No.4 (Private Limited) from collecting toll fee from the public at Dindigul- Samayanallur Highway (DS Toll Road).
S.Rajasekar , Counsel for the petitioner submits that necessary facilities are not provided. The truck lay-bays are not provided with paved parking facilities, rest areas with toilets, drinking water facilities with 24 x 7 emergency helpline. All these are not provided by the respondents.
The third respondent (The Project Manager National Highways Authority of India), has filed an affidavit stating that there are two truck lay-bays provided as per the construction agreement with paved parking facilities, rest areas with toilets, drinking water facilities with 24 x 7 emergency helpline.
It is further submitted that call boxes were installed along with the Project Highway. But on account of the OFC cable repeatedly cut in various locations by the local public, it became out of use and alternatively, for the convenience of road users, fourth respondent has provided and displayed Emergency Helpline Number which is functional by 24 x 7.
The variable message signs, closed circuit television cameras, automatic traffic counter and classifier and meteorological station have been provided as per construction agreement. The median plantation is also maintained.
“If the OFC cables are repeatedly cut, the Highway Authority or the Contractor can take stern action against the offenders that would provide as a deterrent”, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala and Justice G. Ilangovan observed.