Even as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has geared up to collect toll from users of Bellary Road (NH7) from Friday midnight, vehicle operators have threatened to strike against the move.
Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents' Association president G.R. Shanmugappa in a release termed the NHAI move a “daylight robbery” and said toll collection on airport road will be the first of its kind in the country. Besides burdening passengers, it will also affect taxi operators, who are already paying over Rs. 9,000 a month to the airport as licence fee. There should not be any toll collection within 10 km from the boundary of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Mr. Shanmugappa said.
Also, the NHAI has not provided service roads, which is mandatory, he alleged. If they attempt to collect toll forcibly, all operators supported by the federation, including tourist taxi owners' association and KSTDC will launch a strike, he warned.
