Toll for Electronic City flyover, Attibele highway to be hiked from July 1

This is the first across-the-board hike in the toll in two years, according to the BETPL

Starting July 1, get ready to pay more for using the 9.98-km-long elevated expressway that links the Silk Board Junction to Electronics City in southern Bengaluru. You will also have to fork out more for travelling on the 14.38-km tolled road to Attibele, near the Tamil Nadu border.

The two stretches are part of the Bengaluru-Hosur section of National Highway 44. The flyover has four lanes while the at-grade road has six.

Depending on the vehicle type, the hike ranges from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

On the E-City flyover, two-wheeler riders have to pay Rs 25 (single journey), Rs 35 (multiple journeys in a day) and Rs 720 (monthly pass), up from Rs 20, Rs 30 and Rs 625, respectively.

Car/Jeep/van drivers have to pay Rs 60 (single journey), Rs 90 (multiple journeys in a day) and Rs 1,795 (monthly pass), up from Rs 50, Rs 80 and Rs 1,570, respectively.

Light commercial vehicles will be charged Rs 85 (single journey), Rs 125 (multiple journeys in a day) and Rs 2,515 (monthly pass), up from Rs 75, Rs 110 and Rs 2,195, respectively.

Truck/bus drivers will pay Rs 170 (single journey), Rs 250 (multiple journeys in a day) and Rs 5,030 (monthly pass), up from Rs 145, Rs 220 and Rs 4,390, respectively.

Earthmovers will be charged Rs 335 (single journey), Rs 505 (multiple journeys in a day) and Rs 10,065 (monthly pass), up from Rs 295, Rs 440 and Rs 8,780, respectively.

This is the first across-the-board hike in the toll in two years, according to Bangalore Elevated Tollway Pvt Ltd (BETPL). Last year, there was no hike in the toll for two-wheelers (for single and multiple journeys).

Under the concessionaire agreement, BETPL can revise the user fee every year on the basis of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) until 2034. The latest hike has been based on the WPI as of March 31, 2022, and will remain in force until June 30, 2023. BETPL has issued a public notice in this regard.

BETPL is a special purpose vehicle set up by the National Highways Authority of India to develop the 24.365-km-long section of NH-44 from the Central Board Junction to Attibele. Mumbai-based Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is the concessionaire.

A resident of Electronics City who uses the expressway expressed surprise at the hike, saying “there has been no improvement in the road”. On the contrary, the travel has worsened, the resident said and explained how speed checks by the traffic police in the middle of the flyover make the travel unpleasant. “There are many bumps. What are they hiking the toll for,” he questioned.

Another BETPL official, speaking anonymously, justified the speed restrictions, saying these were necessary to prevent accidents. A number of accidents on the flyover prompted the traffic police to restrict the top vehicle speed to 60 kmph years ago, he added.

Built at a cost of Rs 990 crore, the flyover is among the longest in India.