Toll protest issue: Fernandes holds meeting with K'taka admin

After the meeting he said another round of discussions would be held on May 12 to discuss the matter

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

As protests over the steep hike in the toll on the National Highway leading to international airport continued for the sixth day today, Union Surface Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes held a meeting with the state administration to find a solution to the issue.

After the meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa and officials concerned here, Fernandes told reporters that another round of discussions would be held on May 12 to discuss the matter.

He said he has called for a report from officials as some issues had been raised, including that the public-private project had not been completed and there were shortcomings. Under the relevant policy, a project is deemed to have been completed if 90 per cent of works are completed, he said.

Mahadevappa said the state government had taken up certain points, including that the service road and signal free intersections had not been provided and posed whether the toll could be hiked without doing so. Meanwhile, protests by various Kannada outfits and taxi drivers and owners of other commercial vehicles continued on the National Highway, demanding the roll back of the hike which came into effect since Saturday last.

The nearly four-fold hike on the 22-km stretch of the elevated road to Kempegowda International airport has been justified by National Highways Authority of India, citing the relevant provisions under the National Highway Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules.

The toll for a return journey by car or other such vehicles has been increased from Rs 30 to Rs 115. The concessionaire of the public-private partnership project has been allowed to hike the toll in accordance with provisions of the agreement with NHAI.