With the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) going back on its promise to postpone collecting toll on Bangalore International Airport Road, the taxi drivers’ associations have warned to commence severe protest if the levy was imposed.
On Saturday, Navayuga Devanahalli Tollway Private Limited in a notification announced that the collection of user fee will commence from the midnight of April 25 at all toll plaza locations on NH-7. The rates were approved by NHAI, it said.
Following this, the India Motor Transport Congress, Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association, Karnataka Maxi Cab and Taxi Association and Karnataka Tourism Forum warned that they would begin a severe protest if the toll was imposed. The associations said they felt betrayed as NHAI had assured that it would convince the government to withdraw the toll proposal. Based on the assurance, the taxi operators had called off their proposed indefinite strike which was scheduled to start on April 17.
Representatives of the associations said they would meet the chief minister and transport minister to request their intervention and postpone the toll collection. If the government decides to persist ignoring the request, they would intensify their protest, they said.
“We are only requesting that the toll gate be shifted further away so that vehicles moving in and out of the airport are spared of the toll. They can begin collecting the toll once the ¤680-crore six-lane express way is complete. Taxi drivers would be saving time and fuel and would be able to pay for the benefits,” said K Prabhakara Reddy, president of KSTDC Taxi Drivers Association.
According to the notice, cars, jeeps, vans and light vehicles would be charged Rs20 for single journey. A return pass would cost Rs25 for two single journeys in a day. A pass for 50 journeys in a month would cost Rs600. Mini buses would be charged Rs30 for single journey, Rs45 for two single journeys a day. Monthly pass for the same would be Rs975. Buses and trucks would be charged Rs60 for a single journey, and ¤90 for two single journeys a day.
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