Bengaluru: Shell out more as you use Doddaballapur-Hoskote STRR

Starting from November 17, vehicles utilizing the Doddaballapur-Hoskote stretch of the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) will be required to pay toll fees.

The Satellite Town Ring Road, spanning 288 kilometers, is under construction to connect Bengaluru with neighboring towns like Dobbspet, Devanahalli, Hoskote, and Ramanagara.

Once fully operational, it will redirect long-distance commercial vehicles away from entering Bengaluru, offering a convenient route for traffic between satellite towns, bypassing the city.

The Rs 17,000-crore project is undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in ten segments. The completion of the Doddaballapur bypass-Hoskote section (34.15 km) with four lanes, accommodating 10,000 Passenger Car Units (PCU) per hour, marks a significant milestone. Toll charges for this section were officially published in the Gazette of India on November 2 and received NHAI approval on November 9.

For light motor vehicles, the toll rates are set at Rs 70 for a one-way trip and Rs 105 for a round trip within 24 hours. Buses and trucks will incur charges of Rs 240 and Rs 360, respectively. These toll rates will be applicable until March 31, 2024, and collections will take place at the Nalluru toll plaza near Devanahalli. While two-wheelers are exempt from toll charges, the NHAI will enforce penalties for wheelies.

Notably, the STRR will feature Karnataka's inaugural boothless toll plaza, eliminating manned toll counters. Upon approaching the toll plaza, a vehicle's number plate and weight will be scanned within 50 meters. If toll payment is facilitated through FASTag and all criteria are met, the boom barrier will open, allowing the vehicle to proceed.