Madras HC bars TNSTC buses from 4 NH toll plazas - Travel to be 'severely' hit

Madras HC

In a significant move that could disrupt public transport across southern Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed that Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses be barred from using four major toll plazas on national highways from 10 July, owing to a pending toll fee of Rs 276 crore, The Hindu reported.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh passed the interim order after noting that the State had failed to settle long-standing dues owed to four private concessionaires maintaining toll plazas on stretches connecting Madurai, Kanniyakumari and other southern districts.

The court acknowledged the seriousness of the directive, describing it as an “extreme step”, but said it had been compelled to act due to the inaction by the State transport department. “The corporations have brought such a precarious situation upon themselves thereby adversely affecting the common people,” Justice Venkatesh observed, as reported by The Hindu.

According to the report in The Hindu, the four concessionaires – Madurai-Kanniyakumari Tollway Pvt. Ltd, Kanniyakumari-Etturavattam Tollway Pvt. Ltd, Salaipudur-Madurai Tollway Pvt. Ltd and Nanguneri-Kanniyakumari Tollway Pvt. Ltd – had moved the court last year via separate writ petitions seeking recovery of dues from the TNSTC.

Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Sathish Parasaran told the court that government-run buses had continued to ply through these highways without making toll payments. He added that many TNSTC buses were also operating without mandatory FASTag compliance, in violation of Central government rules. Toll staff, fearing escalation and law-and-order problems, often refrained from stopping the vehicles, Parasaran argued.

The court was informed that while TNSTC had cleared around Rs 48.5 crore, a balance of Rs 276 crore remains, including a principal amount of Rs 116 crore and additional penalties and interest. Justice Venkatesh warned that without immediate negotiations and payment, the arrears could soon balloon to Rs 300–400 crore.

Noting the potential for unrest, the judge also directed the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police and the Inspector General of Police (South Zone) to deploy sufficient police personnel at the four toll plazas – Kappalur, Etturavattam, Salaipudhur and Nanguneri – to maintain order when the ban comes into effect on July 10, as per The Hindu.

A copy of the interim order has been sent to both top police officials for strict compliance. The court will take stock of the situation again on July 15.

The move could severely impact bus travel in several districts, with lakhs of daily commuters potentially affected. Yet, as The Hindu notes, the High Court made it clear that the action was necessitated by the continued inaction and lack of seriousness shown by government agencies towards resolving the financial deadlock.