Speaking with Deccan Herald, Moily said the toll booth at Devanahalli would inconvenience commuters to Bangalore. In particular, he said people travelling from nearby towns to Bangalore would be hit hard. “I was not aware of the toll booth until now. It is true that those travelling from the outskirts of Bangalore will be particularly affected. Normally, toll booths provide some sort of concession to the local population”, he said.
Appropriate authorities
“I was not informed about this project, NHAI officials did not consult with me before going ahead with this. I will now study the issue and take it up with the appropriate authorities”, he added.
Chikkaballapur, the constituency that Moily represents in the Lok Sabha, will be particularly affected by the move as National Highway 7(NH-7) is the lifeline for farmers who sell most of their produce to Bangalore. According to one estimate, nearly 80 per cent of vegetables that the city receives comes from farms located on towns dotting the highway.
With a looming shortage of vegetables following the impact of Jal cyclone, the imposition of toll from next month will contribute further to the rise in prices of vegetables.
The problem is further exacerbated with the lack of service roads along the stretch near the airport. The toll booths have been set up near Bengaluru International Airport by NHAI as part of a Rs 680-crore project to upgrade the road between Hebbal and Devanahalli.
Under the project, a traffic signal-free corridor to the airport will be built which includes a six-lane elevated expressway between Hebbal and Yelahanka. Interestingly, unlike several other NHAI projects, toll is being collected by the NHAI for a project even before it is completed.
Widespread criticism
Already, following widespread criticism from several sections of society, Home Minister and Bangalore City in-charge Minster R Ashoka has said the government would approach NHAI to shift the toll booth from the existing location.
But, the State has been slow to move on this, with a proposal to extend BBMP limits all the way to Devanahalli pending with the Urban Development department for months.