Toll rates to go up by 3-5% from April 1 in Karnataka

Toll rates are set to increase by 3-5 per cent across the state on April 1 as part of an inflation-linked annual exercise. Notifications in this regard will be issued in the next few days. 

The revised rates will apply to most of the 66 toll plazas in the state, depending on the concessionaire period. 

The maximum hike will be 5 per cent and the minimum 3 per cent, said K B Jayakumar, Project Director, NHAI, Bengaluru. 

Some of the toll plazas where toll charges will go up include Kaniminike and Sheshagirihalli (Bengaluru-Mysuru), Nangli (Bengaluru-Tirupati), Bagepalli (Bengaluru-Hyderabad), Sadahalli (Bengaluru airport road), and Hulikunte and Nalluru Devanahalli (Satellite Town Ring Road). 

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to introduce a policy for toll charges on national highways to give some concessions to road users. 

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari told the Rajya Sabha on March 19 that total toll collection in India touched Rs 64,809.86 crore in 2023-24, a 35% rise over the previous year. The collection was Rs 27,503 crore in 2019-20. Karnataka has 66 toll plazas. 

All toll plazas on national highways are established as per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, and the respective concessionaire agreement, he added. 

Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association president Radhakrishna Holla said the additional charges would be passed on to customers. 

“The charges are increased based on the wholesale price index in accordance with the 2008 rules. It’s a default hike. We operate tourist cabs and taxis, and will pass on the increase to customers,” he told DH.