NHAI asked to examine barrier-free tolling at Paliyekara

The National Highways Authority of India has been asked to examine the feasibility of introducing barrier-free tolling at the Paliyekara plaza in Thrissur. District Collector Shikha Surendran issued the direction at a meeting of the National Highway Task Force. Officials were asked to study the system used at Tambaram in Tamil Nadu as a possible model for improving traffic flow at Paliyekara.

The meeting also reviewed safety, waterlogging and pedestrian-related concerns along the National Highway 66 corridor. The NHAI project director said deficiencies identified during an earlier joint inspection had been rectified. The Collector nevertheless directed the police and Motor Vehicles department to verify the claims through a physical inspection and submit a report confirming whether the corrective measures had been completed.

An earlier inspection had identified a four-kilometre stretch of the highway without street lighting. The NHAI said it would prepare a proposal for new lights and submit it to its headquarters. The meeting also addressed drainage outside the highway’s right of way.

The Local Self-Government department’s executive engineer was instructed to conduct a joint inspection with the NHAI and local bodies and prepare an estimate for the required drainage links. Officials agreed to form a committee involving the police, Motor Vehicles, Revenue and NHAI departments to identify parking areas for lorries and trucks that frequently occupy highway stretches. The NHAI said 6,000 square feet had already been identified near the Kodungallur bypass for this purpose.

The proposed tolling change will be considered alongside these measures, which officials said were intended to improve traffic movement and address persistent infrastructure and safety problems on the corridor.