Toll collection makes an ominous start

State government distances itself from the controversy

Narayanaswamy (22), employed with Navayuga Devanahalli Tollway Private Limited (NDTPL) was mowed down by a bus on Monday morning. The international airport police have registered a case under Section 304(A) IPC. Narayanaswamy was with the NDTPL for the past two months.

Meanwhile, with the protest against collection of toll on the international airport road turning violent, the State government sought to distance itself from the controversy.
Transport and Home minister R Ashoka who visited the toll plaza said the government was not informed on the setting up of the plaza.

 “Before starting something like this, the Union government should have held a meeting with the State Transport department. Collection of toll has begun even though the work on the Rs 850-cr project is yet to start,” the minister said. The State would ask the Centre to shift the toll plaza beyond the flyover that leads to the airport, he added.

Ashoka also blamed the NDTPL for the death of its employee. He said lack of training cost the youth his life and the police would register a case against toll booth operator.

The NDTPL, on its part shifted the onus on the National Highways Authority of India. “The NHAI has decided the location, toll, exemption, etc. We are only implementing its directives and maintain the stretch from the end of Hebbal flyover up to Devanahalli bridge,” said NDTPL operations manager, Col George Joseph. He said the company would design, finance, build, operate and maintain the 3.2-km elevated highway and two flyovers. The aim was to create a signal-free corridor up to the airport.

About 35,000 vehicles, 80 per cent of them cabs, ply on the stretch every day. While revenue has not been estimated, Col Joseph said the peak hours were between 5 am and 9 am and from 4 pm to 9 pm.

Toll collection came to a halt as six booths were vandalised by protesting activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike. Vehicles continued to ply without paying toll on the route.