Bengaluru: After paying toll for over 16 years, more than 25,000 two-wheeler commuters using Electronics City elevated corridor daily may soon be exempt from payments, following NHAI taking over the project after the concession period ended on Sept 10.NHAI is now operating the toll plaza of the 10-km corridor connecting Central Silk Board with Electronics City. The authorities are examining the exemption of two-wheelers from toll.The corridor, which became operational in 2010, provides a signal-free route towards Electronics City, Bommasandra and Attibele. It is among the few city roads where two-wheelers currently pay a toll. A monthly pass for two-wheelers costs Rs 785, while a daily pass costs Rs 40 and a single trip Rs 25. More than 30,000 two-wheeler transactions are recorded at the toll plaza each day.Motorists argue that Electronics City and Attibele toll plazas are 14km apart, with the two locations falling within 60 km of each other.A senior NHAI official said the tolling rules would change following the takeover. “The concessionaire (Bangalore Elevated Tollway) was collecting toll under the 1997 toll policy. Since NHAI has taken over the project, toll has to be collected under the 2008 policy. Under these rules, two-wheelers are not liable to pay toll on national highway stretches,” the official said.Toll rates for cars and other vehicles are likely to be revised after NHAI shifts to the 2008 toll policy. Officials said any increase for cars, buses and other vehicles is expected to be marginal.The elevated corridor was developed following requests from IT companies and the state govt to ease congestion on Hosur Road.Officials said any decision on removing a toll plaza would have to be taken by NHAI. The authority is also considering a multi-lane free flow tolling system, which would allow electronic toll collection without conventional toll plazas.
