Toll woes mount on Bengaluru’s NICE Road: High costs, poor safety spark outrage

Daily commuters on Bengaluru’s NICE Road are reeling under the financial strain caused by a fresh toll hike, which has made the city’s peripheral expressway one of the most expensive in the state. For car owners, the toll now amounts to nearly Rs 7 per kilometre, with two-wheelers paying around Rs 2.50, a significant increase compared to National Highways, where the toll ranges between Rs 3 to Rs 4 per km.

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Covering the 45-kilometre stretch from Tumakuru Road (Madavara) to Hosur Road (Electronics City) is now costing car users Rs 306 for a single trip, more than the projected cost of using the brand-new Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, which will charge Rs 190 for a longer 70 km stretch.

While many commuters acknowledge the convenience of skipping city traffic by using NICE Road, they are deeply concerned about the rising costs. The lack of return-trip concessions, absence of daily passes, and inconsistent safety measures are further fueling frustration. Riders have flagged poor visibility, inadequate road signage, limited surveillance, and the dangerous practice of allowing two-wheelers on an access-controlled highway as key concerns.

Public transport is not spared either. The toll burden is likely to impact over 12,000 BMTC bus commuters daily. The corporation currently charges passengers an extra Rs 30 over the base fare to recover toll expenses. BMTC is now considering a fare hike to manage the added toll costs, with around 60 buses making multiple trips daily on this route.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje has criticized the toll revision, calling it arbitrary and burdensome. In a letter to the Karnataka government, she demanded a review of the toll hike and better safety infrastructure. The NICE Road operator, however, defended the hike, citing provisions in their concession agreement with the state.