Taxi and truck drivers are protesting against collection of toll fees by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) within the city limits — that is, on the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) Road.
From Saturday midnight, most taxis and trucks in Bangalore will come to a screeching halt. Why? They’re protesting against collection of toll fees by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) within the city limits — that is, on the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) Road.
Those who depend on taxis to reach the airport or head back into the city after landing in Bangalore will bear the brunt. Many associations, including the Bangalore Tourist Vehicle Owners Association, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), Karnataka Tourist Federation, among others, have extended support to this protest called by All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC).
Very few associations, such as Meru Cabs, have stayed away from the protest. All-India Motor Transport Congress president GR Shanmugappa said that even though the association had staged a protest against the toll on April 1, neither the state government nor the NHAI have responded to them. “From midnight, we will stop all our vehicles, especially those going to the airport and vice versa. It is an indefinite strike,” he said.
“Nowhere in the country are airport-bound vehicles tolled. There is a 13km signal-free road to Hyderabad airport and taxis are not charged. It’s the same in Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. The government must make sure that toll booths are shifted further away from the airport entry or allow free access to vehicles going to the airport,” said Shanmugappa.
Taxi driver Anand K said: “A one-way toll charge is Rs20. We want a reduction in rates. At least 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles use that road at any give time and thanks to this toll gate, the traffic congestion is going to increase. The rule says that there can’t be a toll gate within the city limit.” Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents’ Association general-secretary said Narayanappa:
“More than 30,000 taxis travel to airport and the toll is troubling drivers. We are only providing a helping hand to taxi-drivers and sympathise with them.”
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