Where did it come from? When was it planned? Why was there no public discussion? Whom does the toll target? All these questions come randomly to your mind when you think of the upcoming toll plaza on your way to Bengaluru International Airport
The decision of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to make the road to BIA a toll road has come under the severest criticism. The toll plaza, which will come up within 30 days from now, will levy a toll tax from end-December or January, say NHAI officials.
“This is not a decision taken overnight. Going by the toll taxing policy under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008, this road is fully developed. The users of this road are supposed to pay a tax levied on certain types of vehicles, including four-wheelers and heavy commercial vehicles,” said RK Gupta, project director, NHAI, Bangalore and Yelahanka.
The National Highway (NH-7) is also known as the Kanyakumari-Varanasi Road. The highway part of this stretch begins from Hebbal, which falls within city limits. Hence, it cannot be made a toll road. The toll plaza can be installed on a highway, 10 km from the city or town municipal limits. That is what is provided for by NHAI rules.
The present location of the toll gate is Sadarahalli Gate, which falls beyond city limits, and within a km of the Bengaluru International Airport.
The toll notification exempts two- and three-wheelers and animal carriages completely from paying any fees for using the highway or part of it. All other types of vehicles, four-wheelers and heavy vehicles, which ply on the road or a part of it or even use a bridge on it will have to pay usage charges.
Sources in the NHAI said that no fixed amount has yet been set as the toll tax. The amount could be in the range of Rs50-60. The toll project is of worth Rs750 crore. The toll gate that is already being constructed will be demolished later, as the stretch charging the toll will later include six lanes. (The present gate can only serve four.) Land for the actual toll plaza will be acquired close to the Sadarahalli Gate.
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