Union Minister Suresh Gopi recently instructed operators at the Paliyekkara toll plaza in Thrissur to open all gates. The decision came after he observed significant vehicle congestion and lengthy queues at the facility, located within his Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency on the Kochi-Salem National Highway. While traveling towards Ernakulam, Mr. Gopi exited his vehicle at the toll booth and personally issued the directive. Police reports indicate that this action helped alleviate the traffic backlog within approximately thirty minutes. The minister justified his intervention by referencing legal guidelines that mandate opening toll gates when vehicle queues reach a specific length, citing concerns over fuel waste, excessive heat, and smoke emissions from idling vehicles. Suresh Gopi, a prominent actor in the Malayalam film industry, also serves as a politician for the Bharatiya Janata Party, having recently secured a parliamentary seat from Thrissur.
Source : Livemint
Photo : Livemint
