While concerns continue to mount among business owners, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has remained tight-lipped about the exact locations of the proposed toll plazas and associated access points.
According to sources, the authority is deliberately withholding detailed plans to prevent speculative land transactions and artificial inflation of property prices along the corridor. “If proposed locations are revealed too early, there is a possibility of speculative land purchases and unnecessary escalation of land values. The objective is to avoid misuse of information, prevent panic among stakeholders and ensure that planning and land-related activities proceed in a transparent and orderly manner,” an official source said.
According to officials, the new tolling system will be implemented at 14 locations across the expressway. The project also includes the construction of railway overbridges, underpasses and overpasses wherever required, at an estimated cost of ₹712 crore.
“The toll booths proposed under the new system will include loops and dedicated lanes to facilitate smooth entry and exit of vehicles. Toll charges will be calculated based on the actual distance travelled by motorists,” an NHAI official told The Hindu.
The entry and exit points are expected to be developed in phases across different stretches of the expressway. Officials said two entry and exit points are planned between Bengaluru and the Bidadi bypass. Another two points will be developed between Bidadi and the Ramanagara bypass.
The Ramanagara-Nidaghatta stretch, including the Channapatna bypass section, will have three entry and exit points. Two such points are planned between Maddur and the Mandya bypass, while four will come up between Mandya and Srirangapatna. One additional entry and exit point is proposed between Srirangapatna and Mysuru.
The NHAI officials maintain that the decentralised tolling model will improve traffic management and reduce congestion currently witnessed near toll plazas and service roads. “Thousands of vehicles bypass the Kaniminike toll plaza every day to avoid paying the full toll amount. This results in significant traffic movement on service roads and local roads. By introducing distance-based tolling and multiple collection points, we expect traffic to be distributed more evenly and congestion to reduce considerably,” an official said.
Published - June 12, 2026 12:47 am IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
