No emergency medical facilities at Tamil Nadu toll gates: Madras High Court

Madurai: Expressing serious concern over lack of emergency medical facilities at toll gates in Tamil Nadu, the Madurai bench of the Madras High court on Monday directed the chief general manger, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to appear in the court to submit his explanation.

“No medical kit and emergency facilities are available at the tollgates,” said Justice K.K. Sasidharan who inspected a toll-gate when he had travelled on Karur-Tiruchy National highway recently. The judge also found the visitors report kept locked inside a room.

A division bench of the High court comprising Justices Sasidharan and G.R. Swaminathan issued this direction while hearing a petition filed by one Palanikumar from Melur.

Justice Sasidharan also pointed out that the toll gate employees were making a vehicle to wait for nearly 20 minutes for issuing passes. "What the employees fail to understand is it that they should not collect toll fee if they make six vehicles to wait at a time," said the judge. The court posted the next hearing to September 13.