Contrary to reports in the media, toll collection has started at the Navayuga Devanahalli (also known as Sadahalli) Toll Plaza for vehicles heading to the Bengaluru airport via the Bengaluru-Hyderabad Highway.
Reports had said that the toll collection had been delayed due to lack of security arrangements at the toll booths to deal with any trouble from road users. When toll fee collection was introduced at the Sadahalli plaza a few years ago, there was large-scale violence from motorists who attacked the toll plaza personnel.
The reports also said that senior police officials had not provided security as the company did not furnish relevant documents.
However, YV Prasad Reddy, Regional Officer, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), told TNM, “No, toll collection has started. Yes, we have asked for security. In the past we have had issues where we faced violence from the public.”
“This is a new system in place and soon everything will be sorted out,” he added.
The toll collection on the route from the city to the airport started on Tuesday. Earlier toll was collected only while coming to the city from the airport. The move by the NHAI came with the introduction of a new route via Hennur to the airport which is free of toll booths.
According to reports, the NHAI is starting to collect one-way toll at the Sadahalli plaza as it might lose out on toll collection from motorists who avoid the route while coming back.
So far, commuters paid a one-way toll of Rs 120 while coming into the city from the airport. Now, the day pass will be available for Rs 125, while a one-way pass will cost Rs 80 each way.
With the introduction of the toll collection, however, there is apprehension about traffic jams which can cause commuters to miss their flights.
But officials assured that there won’t be any such issue as 15 toll booths have been readied.
Speaking to TNM earlier, Reddy had said, “We are going to charge for both ways now as the state government has readied an alternate road. We don’t expect many vehicles to return on the same stretch anymore as there is the option of a toll-free road.”