The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka plans toll fee for highways

The Karnataka Government proposes to introduce toll fee for its highways. With increasing pressure on resources to maintain the State highways due to huge volume of traffic, the Government has decided to constitute a committee headed by the Transport Commissioner to study the feasibility of the proposal before taking a decision.

Report by Jan 22

The committee consisting of officials from the Departments of Transport, Public Works, Police and Karnataka Road Development would study the locations for installation of tollgates on state highways. It has been asked to submit a report before January 22.

The Karnataka Minister for Public Works, Mr H.D. Revanna, shared the information with newspersons after an hour-long meeting with the officials of PWD, Transport and KRDL.

Karnataka, which has a 4,000-km state highway, sees 6,000 heavy vehicles using the carriageways between Chikkanayanahalli-Tiptur-Hassan alone.

Damage to roads

This has resulted in damage to the road, driving the Government to collecti toll from users. In view of the increasing burden on highway maintenance, the PWD has forwardeded a proposal to the Centre seeking enhancement of maintenance cost of national highways passing though the state from Rs 25,000 per km to Rs 1 lakh, the Minister said.