As the NHAI begins toll collection, commuters and the Congress party stage protests.
Story so far: Amidst many protests, toll collection for the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway began yesterday. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced a toll fee for vehicles travelling through the first stretch of the expressway from Bengaluru to Nidaghatta in Mandya district, which covers a distance of 55.63 km.
- Cars, jeeps, and vans will have to pay ₹135 for a single trip and ₹205 for a round trip completed on the same day. After the second stretch opens, this fee may rise to ₹250.
- All vehicles qualify for a 33% discount for making 50 single trips monthly. Commercial vehicles registered in the district will get a 50% discount. Vehicles carrying loads over permissible limits will pay ten times the fee rate.
Why protest? After Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project, concerned citizens and the Congress criticised the government for opening it up before completing the construction of service roads and other incomplete parts. Some argue that tolls cannot be charged before the project is complete, and when it does, it shouldn’t be so high.
- BMTC drivers are unhappy with it too. The depots told them to access the service road until they received Fastag passes. However, they were denied entry there. Toll collectors allowed them to pass freely for a day.
- These protests turned into altercations between some outfits and the toll collectors. High police security engulfed the toll booth near Kaniminike, where a protestor broke a toll gate sensor.
(Image credits: Chitra M’s Twitter Post)