Paliyekara toll plaza may go barrier-free in push to ease traffic snarls

The Paliyekara toll plaza may soon become barrier-free, as District Collector Shikha Surendran instructed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to assess the viability of adopting Tamil Nadu’s Tambaram model. This directive was conveyed during a meeting of the National Highway Task Force, chaired by the Collector, where discussions focused on safety and infrastructure issues along the National Highway 66 corridor.

The NHAI's Project Director assured the gathering that previously identified concerns, such as highway safety, waterlogging, and pedestrian difficulties, had been fully resolved. However, the Collector mandated the police and Motor Vehicles department to verify these claims on-site and report back on the effectiveness of the implemented measures.

Earlier investigations had revealed a 4-kilometer segment of National Highway 66 lacking adequate street lighting. The NHAI pledged to draft and submit a proposal for new streetlights to NHAI headquarters. Additionally, the meeting addressed drainage connectivity beyond the highway’s jurisdiction. The Collector ordered the Local Self-Government department’s executive engineer to collaborate with NHAI and local bodies, conducting an inspection and preparing an estimate for necessary drainage works.

Concerning vehicle occupancy, the group decided to form a special committee with representatives from the police, Motor Vehicles department, Revenue department, and NHAI to pinpoint suitable parking areas for lorries and trucks. The NHAI confirmed that 6,000 square feet of land adjacent to the bypass at Kodungallur has already been earmarked for this purpose.

Representatives from both the police and Motor Vehicles department, along with Revenue department and Local Self-Government department officials, joined the NHAI representatives in attending the meeting. The proposal for barrier-free tolling at Paliyekara is anticipated to be evaluated as part of broader initiatives to enhance traffic flow and tackle ongoing safety and infrastructure challenges along the highway.