BENGALURU: Commuters unhappy over the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) decision to revise and hike the user fee on newly constructed Bengaluru-Mysuru Express barely a fortnight after the start collection of user fee.
The collection of user fee on Bengaluru-Mysuru Express from Bengaluru to Nidaghatta section began on March 14 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the upgraded Highway in Mandya district on March 12.
It may be recalled here that over the collection of user fee, commuters expressed displeasure stating the user fee fixed is a bit too high for them to afford. Janata Dal Secular and Congress party workers along with pro-Kannada activists staged a protest against collection of user-fee until service roads are made operational.
With effect from Saturday, the revised user fee will be applicable on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway and as per the revised user fee, car/vans/jeeps will have to pay Rs 165 for a single trip while the earlier user fee was fixed at Rs 135. It has now gone up by Rs 30.
Similarly, user fee for mini buses has been hiked from Rs 220 to Rs 270. The user fee for trucks and buses (two axle) has been revised from Rs 460 for a single journey to Rs 565. All vehicles such as earthmoving and oversized vehicles (7 axle) also have to pay more to use the Expressway.
Over the hike in user fee, Nikhil Kumarswamy, Janata Dal Secular nominee for Ramanagar Assembly seat stated that the Expressway is meant for the rich and to add to the woes of common man, he alleged service roads have not been opened.
Reacting to the hike in user-fee, Mysuru-Kodagu Member of Parliament Pratap Simha said from March 14 onwards user fee Bengaluru- Nidaghatta was collected and now it has been revised from Rs 135 to Rs 165.
The revision in user fee has been made across the country at all Toll Plazas belonging to NHAI and Ministry of Roads Transport and Highways and the revision of user fee not restricted to Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway alone, the MP said.
Pratap Simha stated to have made an appeal to put on hold the hike in user fee and do rethink on collection of user fee once service roads are ready for use.
