State must act against Paliyekkara toll company: Congress
DCC president and district panchayat opposition leader Joseph Tajet said at a press conference that the state govt had not yet spoken a word against the toll collection company despite him drawing its attention to the company's illegal ways many a time.
Tajet, who is one of the petitioners against the toll company at the high court, said the state govt must file objections at the Supreme Court if the NHAI or the toll company files an appeal there.
Tajet said the company had not implemented the safety measures suggested by the road safety audit team.
He disclosed that as per the RTI replies received by him, the company has collected Rs 1,614.26 crore as toll till July this year, though the whole road construction entailed only Rs 721.17 crore.
The RTI replies also indicate that a fine of Rs 2,353.92 crore was slapped on the company by the NHAI for various violations. But the company has not remitted it so far and has moved legally against it. The state govt must realise the fine and get the company blacklisted, in collaboration with central govt and NHAI, the Congress functionary said.
He said the state govt is a party to the tripartite concessionaire agreement for the road and therefore it has a legal right to intervene to protect the interests of the road users.
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