In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the establishment of a toll plaza at the 194 km mark of NH-30 in Bihar, overturning the High Court's order to relocate it. The issue was whether the toll plaza's location within municipal limits violated Rule 8 of the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008. The Court found that while Rule 8 generally prohibits toll plazas within 10 km of municipal areas, the second proviso permits them within municipal limits if the highway section was constructed primarily for local residents' benefit. The Court held that no written reasons were required to invoke this proviso, distinguishing it from the first proviso. Finding that the highway construction substantially benefited local residents and that revenue considerations were legitimate, the Court allowed the appeal and set aside the relocation order, though requiring compliance with service road rules and extension of applicable fee concessions."
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