Toll collection set to begin on Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway: NHAI finalises rates amid safety concerns

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is preparing to officially start toll collection on the Karnataka stretch of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, particularly the 71 km segment connecting Hoskote to Bethamangala near KGF. This portion, which has been unofficially in use for over seven months, will now see structured toll rates applied across four key toll plazas, Hedigenabele, Agrahara, Krishnarajapura, and Sundarapalya.

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For cars and jeeps, toll rates range from Rs 185 to Rs 190 for one-way journeys and Rs 275 to Rs 280 for round trips, depending on the direction. Heavier vehicles such as trucks and buses will be charged up to Rs 635 for single trips and Rs 955 for round trips. Minibuses and light commercial vehicles face tolls between Rs 295 and Rs 305 for one-way, with round trips costing up to Rs 455. Commuters can also opt for a monthly pass, which will cost over Rs 6,100 for private cars.

Though the expressway offers a high-speed corridor with a 120 kmph limit and significantly reduced travel time to KGF and beyond into Tamil Nadu, safety concerns persist. Despite a ban on two-wheelers, incomplete fencing has allowed some motorcyclists to access the route, resulting in reported accidents. NHAI officials have sought permission to deploy home guards at these vulnerable spots until fencing is completed and are working to bolster security at toll plazas.

Officials anticipate an initial decline in expressway usage due to tolling, but maintain that the infrastructure upgrade provides long-term benefits. Simultaneously, work continues on enhancing district roads and improving connectivity to major expressway junctions, particularly the planned link between Sundarapalya and the Bengaluru-Kolar Expressway.

However, commuters remain concerned about persistent traffic snarls near access points like KR Pura, which continue to delay travel despite the expressway’s promise of faster commutes.