BENGALURU: The Federation Of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Associations is planning to hold indefinite strike from March 11 opposing the high toll fees across the state. With rising fuel prices, it has become difficult to operate the business and, if the government does not do something about it, they will be forced to go on strike, they warned.
The toll on all the highways coming under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has almost doubled. After the Covid pandemic, the transport business is picking up only now and the steep toll fees is a burden on truckers, the federation president G R Shanmugappa said.
“After pressure was exerted that no toll should be levied on four-, six- and eight-lanes highways till the work is completed, the toll fee was reduced 25 per cent. But now, instead of raising it by 25 per cent, the toll has been doubled. Crores of rupees has been looted in the name of toll fee”, Shanmugappa said.
“Since 2008, the Congress governments had dealt a severe blow. The government had spent Rs 1,600 crore on the construction of the Bengaluru-Chennai highway, and even after collecting over Rs 4,000 crore in the last 15 years, the toll collection has not stopped. Likewise, the NICE road was constructed at a cost of Rs 1,300 and road users are being looted even now as there is no one to question them. Since there is work going on, exemption to be given to road users”, he insisted.
Shanmukhappa said truckers have to fork out Rs 2,000 to pass between Nelamanagala and Hosur. “Of the 42 toll gates in the state, the cost has been recovered fully on 22 stretches but yet, the full toll is being collected while only maintenance charges are to be collected. We are going to hold an indefinite strike to oppose the charging of double toll fee and to demand collection of only 40 per cent maintenance charges at the 22 tollgates”, said Shanmukhappa.
“The government should construct underpasses along the Bengaluru-Chennai highway at select locations and should block the NICE Road. In the upcoming election, we will teach a lesson to those who have troubles us”, he remarked.