Non-payment of toll: Madras High Court bars TNSTC buses from plying on NH at 4 toll plazas

The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed toll operators to prevent Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses from using four National Highway toll plazas due to a failure to clear pending toll fees of ₹276 crores..The Madurai-Kanniyakumari Tollway Private Limited, Kanniyakumari-Etturavattam Tollway Private Limited, Salaipudur-Madurai Tollway Private Limited, and Nanguneri-Kanniyakumari Tollway Private Limited had individually filed petitions before the Court last year.The petitioners argued that they had incurred substantial losses as Tamil Nadu government buses continued to use the National Highways without paying the applicable toll charges.During the hearing, the petitioners submitted a memo of calculation, indicating that a total sum of approximately ₹276 crores was outstanding from four State Transport Corporations, which included penalty and interest. Even after excluding penalty and interest, an amount of ₹113 crores remains unpaid despite prior payments totaling ₹48.5 crores, the petitioners contended.The Court noted that a key issue in this case concerned violations of the 2000 Rules relating to vehicles operating without FASTags. It further observed that the TNSTC has not made any meaningful efforts to resolve the outstanding dues despite repeated warnings from the Court in earlier orders..Justice N Anand Venkatesh added that unless a concrete solution is presented to clear these dues, the Court would be compelled to take the drastic step of halting State buses from using National Highways."This Court is aware of the potential consequences if such order is passed, since ultimately, it is the common man, who is using these Government buses who will be adversely affected. However unless and otherwise the order which will jolt the officials, is passed, they will not take efforts to settle this dispute, which has been going on for many years together. The longer the payments are delayed, the more the penalty and interest will escalate, potentially reaching astronomical proportions," it observed..The Court proceeded to order the petitioner-toll operators to stop TNSTC buses from passing through their toll plazas from July 10 onwards. This restriction will remain in force until the Corporation presents a feasible plan for clearing the dues, the Court said.To maintain law and order, the Director General of Police (DGP), Chennai, was also directed to ensure adequate police protection at all toll plazas owned by the petitioner-toll operators. The police must ensure that no pressure is put on these toll operators to allow TNSTC buses through, the Court added..Senior Advocate Satish Parasaran and Advocate Karthik Sundaram appeared for the petitioners.Additional Government Pleader LSM Hasan Fizal and Advocate SU Srinivasan appeared for the respondents..[Read Order]