The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Bengaluru): Vehicle users traversing the access-controlled Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, Bengaluru-Hyderabad highway, and sections of the Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) will encounter escalated toll charges effective April 1. The toll rates have escalated by 3 to 14% in accordance with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and will remain applicable until March 31, 2025. Notably, vehicles using the STRR will face the steepest hike of 14%, while those on the Bengaluru-Mysuru access-controlled highway and National Highway 7 (Bengaluru-Hyderabad) will experience a 3% increase.
The toll revision follows less than six months after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) commenced tolling the Doddaballapur-Hoskote section of STRR on November 17, 2023. Vilas P Brahmankar, NHAI’s Bengaluru Regional Officer, clarified that the toll revision is part of an annual nationwide exercise. Furthermore, tenders have been initiated to select toll collection contractors for the Dobbspet-Doddaballapur section of STRR, slated to commence tolling in April.
Under the revised toll structure, cars/vans/jeeps using the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta highway will pay Rs 170 for a single journey and Rs 255 for a return journey within 24 hours. Similarly, toll charges vary for different vehicle categories and distances traveled on other routes, with non-commercial vehicles within 20 km of toll plazas eligible for a monthly pass at increased rates.
The toll collection points are specified along each route, with respective toll rates applicable at designated plazas. Notably, toll charges between Nidaghatta and Mysuru, as well as Doddaballapur bypass and Hoskote, have also been revised to reflect the updated toll structure.
Published on March 28, 2024, the toll revisions mark an adjustment aimed at maintaining road infrastructure viability and sustainability in Karnataka.