The Madras High Court has directed toll operators to bar Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses from using National Highway toll plazas, citing unresolved toll dues amounting to ₹276 crores.

The order was passed by Justice N Anand Venkatesh in a batch of petitions filed by Madurai-Kanniyakumari Tollway Pvt Ltd, Kanniyakumari-Etturavattam Tollway Pvt Ltd, Salaipudur-Madurai Tollway Pvt Ltd, and Nanguneri-Kanniyakumari Tollway Pvt Ltd, who sought recovery of long-pending toll charges from the State Transport Corporations.

The petitioners submitted that TNSTC buses continued to access National Highways without paying toll charges, resulting in massive losses. A detailed memo filed before the Court pegged total dues at ₹276 crores, inclusive of penalties and interest. Even after excluding these, an amount of ₹113 crores remains outstanding, despite prior payments of ₹48.5 crores, they claimed.

The Court noted violations under the 2000 Rules, particularly regarding operations without FASTags. It further expressed concern that State Transport Corporations had made no serious effort to resolve the issue despite repeated judicial warnings.

Justice Venkatesh remarked:

“The longer the payments are delayed, the more the penalty and interest will escalate, potentially reaching astronomical proportions. Unless an order that jolts the officials is passed, they will not take steps to settle this dispute, which has persisted for years.”

Effective July 10, toll operators have been ordered to deny access to TNSTC buses at their respective plazas until a concrete repayment plan is presented.

To maintain law and order, the Director General of Police, Chennai, has been directed to provide adequate protection to ensure toll operators are not coerced into allowing buses through.

The matter is next scheduled for hearing on July 30.

Appearances

• For Petitioners: Senior Advocate Satish Parasaran, Advocate Karthik Sundaram

• For Respondents: Additional Government Pleader LSM Hasan Fizal, Advocate SU Srinivasan