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 ā¹120 for a one-way trip and ā¹180 for a same-day return journey.A monthly pass covering 50 single journeys will cost ā¹3,970, compared to the current ā¹3,835.Additionally, light commercial vehicles and minibuses will experience an increase in toll charges, with one-way fees set at ā¹185 and return fees at ā¹275. The monthly pass for these vehicles will now be priced at ā¹6,100, an increase from the earlier ā¹5,890.
Charges for heavy vehicles, including trucks and buses, are set to increase. At Sadahalli, the new fees will be ā¹370 for a one-way trip, ā¹550 for a round trip, and ā¹12,265 for a monthly pass, up from the previous rates of ā¹355, ā¹535, and ā¹11,845, respectively. Travelers on the 42-km route from Dobbspet to Doddaballapur via the STRR will incur charges of ā¹110 for a single journey, ā¹165 for a return trip, and ā¹3,615 for a monthly pass at the Hulikunte toll plaza.
These amounts reflect an increase from the current fees of ā¹105, ā¹155, and ā¹3,490. In addition, motorists utilizing the 34.15-km segment of the STRR from Doddaballapur bypass to Hoskote will now pay ā¹85 for a one-way trip and ā¹125 for a return journey at the Nalluru Devanahalli toll plaza, compared to the earlier charges of ā¹70 and ā¹105.
The Devanahalli (Sadahalli) toll plaza, situated in proximity to Kempegowda International Airport, achieved a record toll revenue of ā¹308.01 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.
