Starting April 1,travelers heading to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) or utilizing the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) in Bengaluru will have to pay higher toll fees. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to revise the toll rates at several plazas, including Sadahalli on NH 7 (the route to KIA), as well as Hulikunte and Nalluru Devanahalli on NH 648 (STRR). This yearly adjustment is linked to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), an important economic measure.
The revision of toll rates will affect all types of road users, encompassing private vehicle owners, taxis, ride-hailing services, airport cabs, and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses operating the Vayu Vajra service to the airport. The fare hike could lead to increased ticket prices if BMTC decides to pass on the additional cost to passengers.
Under the revised tariff structure, vehicles such as cars, jeeps, vans, and other light motor vehicles utilizing the Sadahalli toll plaza (22.12 km) will incur a fee of ₹120 for a one-way trip and ₹180 for a same-day return journey.A monthly pass covering 50 single journeys will cost ₹3,970, compared to the current ₹3,835.Additionally, light commercial vehicles and minibuses will experience an increase in toll charges, with one-way fees set at ₹185 and return fees at ₹275. The monthly pass for these vehicles will now be priced at ₹6,100, an increase from the earlier ₹5,890.
Charges for heavy vehicles, including trucks and buses, are set to increase. At Sadahalli, the new fees will be ₹370 for a one-way trip, ₹550 for a round trip, and ₹12,265 for a monthly pass, up from the previous rates of ₹355, ₹535, and ₹11,845, respectively. Travelers on the 42-km route from Dobbspet to Doddaballapur via the STRR will incur charges of ₹110 for a single journey, ₹165 for a return trip, and ₹3,615 for a monthly pass at the Hulikunte toll plaza.
These amounts reflect an increase from the current fees of ₹105, ₹155, and ₹3,490. In addition, motorists utilizing the 34.15-km segment of the STRR from Doddaballapur bypass to Hoskote will now pay ₹85 for a one-way trip and ₹125 for a return journey at the Nalluru Devanahalli toll plaza, compared to the earlier charges of ₹70 and ₹105.
The Devanahalli (Sadahalli) toll plaza, situated in proximity to Kempegowda International Airport, achieved a record toll revenue of ₹308.01 crore during the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to information from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. In addition, the annual toll increase, which generally averages about 5%, will be implemented on April 1 for the majority of tolled highways and expressways across the nation.A senior NHAI official said that these periodic toll adjustments are part of a standard policy that aligns with inflationary changes based on the WPI.
