NHAI firm on collecting toll en route to airport

The possibility of an indefinite strike by taxi and lorry owners’ associations looms large with the National Highway Authority of India’s project director R K Gupta insisting that he will go ahead with collection of toll en route to Bengaluru International Airport.

“Be absolutely sure, we will start collection of toll near the BIA. The State Cabinet’s decision was to allow the same and there is no need to violate it. We have the legal backing,” Gupta said.

While a date is yet to be fixed as to when the toll booth near BIA will start functioning, Gupta said that February 10 or 11 are the dates chosen tentatively.

An official announcement on the same will be made by Saturday, he said.

The NHAI will also not yield to pressure from associations who are demanding a separate service lane.

“It is not possible at all and it will not be done. There is no such policy which requires us to do so,” Gupta said.

Protest at meeting venue

There were reports that Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC)  taxi owners had protested outside the venue of the meeting between NHAI and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) officials here on Thursday. Gupta claimed that any form of protest by KSTDC will only invite legal complications for the association.

“KSTDC is a government body and if they go against a State Cabinet approved decision, they will have violated the law. Initial agitation is inevitable and we will face it,” he said.

The four-gate toll booth located near BIA has reportedly started test runs with operators employed full-time to monitor vehicular flow.