Vehicle users to pay toll for smooth ride in Karnataka

Vehicle users can now look forward to a smooth ride in the state. This, however, will come at a price as they will have to pay toll for using these roads. With an eye on the 2013 assembly elections, the BS Yeddyurappa ministry on Thursday made an announcement that roads spanning a length of 15,000 km will be developed at a cost of Rs13,363 crore in the state.

“Roads in the state, including national and highways and rural roads, span a length of 2,09,866 km. Of this,15,000 km of roads will be developed. Development of district and taluk roads will be our focus area. After the development, toll will be levied for vehicle users on 1,428 km of roads,” Suresh Kumar, law and parliamentary affairs minister, told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The state government will be contributing Rs8,000 crore over the next two years for this project, while the remaining amount will be mobilised from other sources, including Rs2,000 crore from the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited and
Rs960 crore from central aid, he explained.

Reiterating that better connectivity was a prerequisite for any development, the minister said that people will have to pay for using better roads, and the money so collected will be used for their maintenance.