Krishnagiri consumer court directs NHAI, contractor to pay ₹1 lakh to commuter, ₹1 crore in damages

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Krishnagiri, has held the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and its contractor, M/s. Shiva Buildtech Private Limited, guilty of “gross deficiency in service” for failing to maintain the Krishnagiri-Hosur toll stretch despite collecting crores of rupees in toll revenue.

In a significant ruling that upheld the commuter’s rights, the Commission, presided over by Judge R. Raja, directed the NHAI and its operations and maintenance contractor, Shiva Buildtech Private Limited, to jointly or severally pay ₹1,00,000 in compensation and ₹15,000 in litigation costs to a commuter. The consumer court also levied ₹1 crore in punitive damages on Shiva Buildtech, payable to the Legal Aid Fund of the Tamil Nadu State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.