The expessway to the airport and beyond is unscientific, and the decision to levy toll on vehicles is ‘absolutely unnecessary’.
State transport commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Wednesday questioned the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)’s move to levy a toll from vehicles plying on the “unscientific” expressway to the Bengaluru International Airport in Devanahalli.
Revealing that the materials used in the construction of the road were of inferior quality, Rao said levying toll was not mentioned in the master plan. He termed the toll plaza as “absolutely unnecessary.”
“They (NHAI) never mentioned about making this expressway a toll road in the master plan when they started constructing it. Why are they suddenly imposing the toll tax on users,” the commissioner wondered.
Rao was speaking at an event — Awareness and Best Practices Sharing Programme for Fleet Operators — jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries and the state transport department in Bangalore.
Rao differed with the NHAI’s claim that the road was being developed. “The road is not built of high quality raw materials and not a good road. They claim that it is developed, which does not make sense. Without a service road, a toll road is unheard of, unscientific and unacceptable,” he said.
The commissioner added that truckers and taxi drivers would be affected by the toll. He exhorted them to raise their voice against the NHAI’s toll plaza.
“The NHAI can have toll gates outside the city,” Rao said. “This (the toll) will invite many problems, considering the added tax and time factor for the airport crowd.”
The NHAI has been constructing toll booths at Sadarahalli Gate, which would become functional by December-end or January.
The taxi drivers’ union, meanwhile, was aware that the central government decision to levy toll was applicable to all highways.
They expressed hope that taxis would be provided with an alternative road or concession.
GR Shanmugappa, president of All India Motor Transport Congress suggested that the toll be levied from vehicles plying beyond the airport on Bellary Road.
“Once the money spent on the project is collected within six to seven years, the NHAI should stop collecting toll. But, its plan to levy toll for 20 years will be a burden on us,” he said.
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