Hans News Service Amaravati

JusticeRavi Cheemalapati of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the toll management to remove barricades erected at the exit point connecting the Vijayawada West Bypass National Highway to the Seed Access Road near the Venkatayapalem toll plaza, providing relief to commuters, including advocates, court staff and local residents.

The issue arose after the toll operator installed barricades at the exit leading to the Seed Access Road, preventing vehicles from directly accessing it. Commuters alleged that they were being forced to pass through the toll plaza, make a U-turn on the highway and cross the toll gate again before reaching the service road. When motorists questioned the arrangement, police personnel deployed at the site allegedly diverted vehicles through the toll plaza. Aggrieved by the restrictions, advocate Sriram Jaswanth of Gollapudi filed a writ petition before the High Court. Senior counsel Y V Raviprasad, appearing for the petitioner and instructed by Mangena Sri Ramarao, argued that the Venkatayapalem toll plaza had been established only about 17 km from the Kaza toll plaza, contrary to Rule 8 of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, which generally prescribes a minimum distance of 60 kilometres between toll plazas. He further contended that Venkatayapalem falls within the notified capital region and that erecting a toll plaza in such an area was legally questionable.