<p>The matter related to the collection of toll on NH-7 (Bangalore-Bellary road) leading to the Bengaluru International Airport is now before the Devanahalli civil court, which on Thursday adjourned hearing of the case to next week. <br /><br /></p>.<p>On April 5 this year, the court, following a petition filed against Navayuga Constructions and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), had ordered that no toll should be collected from the public till the case was disposed of.<br /><br />When Deccan Herald visited the toll plazas near the trumpet interchange of BIA, it was found there was no stoppage for vehicles at the plazas. Toll operators said they were awaiting vacation of the court stay to restart toll collection. <br /><br />However, it was also found that the existing toll plazas are temporary and the NHAI was building a mega plaza, with 20 booths nearby. <br /><br />Disputes resolved<br /><br />NHAI officials said work on eight toll booths was almost complete and land acquisition disputes for the construction of remaining booths had been resolved. <br /><br />“We have got orders to relocate families from Jayapura village beside NH7, which has been marked for land acquisition for the purpose, to a land in nearby Shettigere. Once that is done, we will be able to complete the plaza construction,” said Vittal Padasalagi, a representative of Navayuga Constructions. <br /><br />He said there will be 10 booths to attend vehicles along both sides of Bellary Road. Villagers, who had earlier staged protests against toll plaza construction, said they gave up their agitation after assurance from the local tahsildar and the NHAI to provide rehabilitation in Shettigere.<br /><br />Burden<br /><br />Four lawyers, who had filed the petition, had argued that toll was a burden on the public, particularly farmers who use the road to transport agricultural produce. The road to BIA, they said, also led to various parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.<br /><br />The advocates had also said the toll plazas should not have been built within the City limits and toll should have been collected only after the completion of revamping of the road.<br /><br />Toll collection had begun on February 13, 2012, despite protests from several cab drivers against the plaza being set up in the City limits.<br /></p>
<p>The matter related to the collection of toll on NH-7 (Bangalore-Bellary road) leading to the Bengaluru International Airport is now before the Devanahalli civil court, which on Thursday adjourned hearing of the case to next week. <br /><br /></p>.<p>On April 5 this year, the court, following a petition filed against Navayuga Constructions and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), had ordered that no toll should be collected from the public till the case was disposed of.<br /><br />When Deccan Herald visited the toll plazas near the trumpet interchange of BIA, it was found there was no stoppage for vehicles at the plazas. Toll operators said they were awaiting vacation of the court stay to restart toll collection. <br /><br />However, it was also found that the existing toll plazas are temporary and the NHAI was building a mega plaza, with 20 booths nearby. <br /><br />Disputes resolved<br /><br />NHAI officials said work on eight toll booths was almost complete and land acquisition disputes for the construction of remaining booths had been resolved. <br /><br />“We have got orders to relocate families from Jayapura village beside NH7, which has been marked for land acquisition for the purpose, to a land in nearby Shettigere. Once that is done, we will be able to complete the plaza construction,” said Vittal Padasalagi, a representative of Navayuga Constructions. <br /><br />He said there will be 10 booths to attend vehicles along both sides of Bellary Road. Villagers, who had earlier staged protests against toll plaza construction, said they gave up their agitation after assurance from the local tahsildar and the NHAI to provide rehabilitation in Shettigere.<br /><br />Burden<br /><br />Four lawyers, who had filed the petition, had argued that toll was a burden on the public, particularly farmers who use the road to transport agricultural produce. The road to BIA, they said, also led to various parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.<br /><br />The advocates had also said the toll plazas should not have been built within the City limits and toll should have been collected only after the completion of revamping of the road.<br /><br />Toll collection had begun on February 13, 2012, despite protests from several cab drivers against the plaza being set up in the City limits.<br /></p>
