VIPs to Get Separate Toll Lanes, Madras High Court Order to NHAI to Be Applicable Nationwide

Chennai, August 30: In its order to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the NHAI to make separate lanes at toll plazas for VIPs, including sitting judges, across the country. "It is disheartening to note that the vehicles of VIPs and sitting Judges are stopped at toll plazas... It is very unfortunate that sitting judges are also compelled to wait in the toll plaza for 10 to 15 minutes," the Court said.

A bench comprising justices Huluvadi G Ramesh and MV Muralidharan passed the interim order directing the NHAI to issue the circular to all toll plazas to provide separate lane so that vehicles of VIPs and sitting judges can pass through without any hindrance.

The bench said it is embarrassing for VIPs and sitting judges to have to wait at toll plazas and display identity documents and warned the NHAI that the court would issue a show cause notice to all authorities concerned unless the problem is rectified. The bench said that any violation of the order would be viewed seriously.

While posting the hearing of the case further to four weeks, the judges said that people maintaining toll plazas shall not indulge in controversy (regarding) VIPs’ and sitting judges’ vehicles without understanding the ramifications. “Unless a separate lane was formed at every toll plaza for VIPs, there would be unnecessary harassment”, it said.

The bench was hearing a batch petition related to toll plazas, including a plea by the L&T Krishnagiri-Wallajapet Tollway Limited seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited's Villupuram and Salem divisions to pay the user fee.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 30, 2018 11:24 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).