Toll fee likely to increase by 5 pc in state from April 1

BENGALURU: New toll rates are likely to be implemented from April 1, and toll fee across Karnataka will increase by 5 per cent. This was disclosed by sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The increase in toll rates will be between 3 per and 5 per cent annually, considering inflation and price rise. The revised rates will apply at 66 toll plazas in the state.

According to the Karnataka State Travel Operators Association, the increased toll charges will be passed on to consumers. The NHAI’s project director stated that toll rates will increase by 3 pc to 5 pc.

The central government will soon announce the new toll fees on national highways. Although Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that consumers will get some concessions in this, it has not been implemented yet, and the 2008 policy will apply. The rates will change based on the toll contract period. This additional fee will be passed on to the consumers, the association said.

The toll plazas at Kaniminike and Seshagirihalli on the Bengaluru-Mysuru route, Nangli on the Bengaluru-Tirupati route, Bagepalli on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad route, Sadahalli on the Bengaluru Airport Road, and Hulikunte and Nallur Devanahalli (Satellite Town Ring Road) are likely to see an increase.

There are 1,181 toll plazas in the country, including 323 state highway toll plazas. The toll collection target for 2023-24 is Rs 42,196 crore, and for 2024-25, it’s Rs 64,809 crore. This year, the target has been increased to Rs 1 lakh crore. Karnataka has 58 toll plazas, which have collected Rs 13,702 crore in the last five years.