JOIN USIn a press conference on Saturday, the associations under the aegis of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) expressed their reservations about the imposition of the toll.
President of AIMTC, G R Shanmugappa said the government could collect toll after the work on the six-lane highway was completed.
“At present, there are only two lanes because of the ongoing work. Where is the need now to collect toll? The proposed deadline for the completion of the highway is March 2013. Let them start collecting the toll then,” he said.
The proposed toll collection by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at Devanahalli before the turn off into the Bengaluru International Airport has drawn criticism from all quarters. The All India Motor Transport Congress, in particular, has been very aggressive in its opposition to the collection of toll. About 20,000 taxis ply to the airport everyday making 40,000 rides.
While noting that it was mandatory to abide to certain norms before collecting toll fee, Shanmugappa said: “The roads should be hurdle and signal free and should be provided with self-luminous reflector paints to caution the drivers and an underpass for pedestrians among others, and this project is nowhere near completion,” he said.