-
Long waits at toll gates defeat purpose of express ways
Almost all toll plazas in and around Bengaluru make motorists wait in long queues defeating their very objective of easing traffic and saving time for motorists.
The Navayuga Devanahalli toll plaza, on the way to the Kempe Gowda International Airport, has reached the saturation point. The 14 toll-collection booths are just not enough, especially during peak hours. Those maintaining the roads say there is no more space to add more toll-collection booths.Navayuga Devanahalli Tollway’s VV Raman said, “We even separated highway vehicles from those going to the airport but things have not changed.“ The price of land on either side of the toll plaza has skyrocketed, he pointed out.
According to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), a sixlane highway should have 36 toll booths while a four-lane highway should have 26 toll booths. None of the toll plazas which are run by the road builders are following the rule.
The situation in Nelamangala, Hosur Road, Hoskote and various toll plazas on NICE road are no different.
Anchi Chowdappa, the man in charge of the BangaloreNelamangala Toll Plaza (also run by Navayuga), admits that 15 minutes are wasted in the pileup. “We wrote to the state government four times to give us land to add toll booths. But, it is still under consideration.“ He pointed out that one of the eight booths was under maintenance while one was equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID).Only six booths were functioning.
The NHAI introduced RFID last year but only one toll booth in each plaza is equipped with an RFID reader. In these booths, motorists need not stop. The RFID system tag works like a prepaid card and the toll is automatically deducted.
Officials point out that the lack of awareness regarding RFID is the problem. Apparently , only 5% motorists -mainly interstate trucks -use it. There will be more RFIDreading booths if awareness goes up, they say .
NS Rama, CEO, the Electronic City Industrial Township Authority (Elcita), pointed out that given the high traffic into the technology hub, there were only two toll booths.
NICE’s MD Ashok Kheny said technology upgradation and increase in the number of booths at all toll plazas on the NICE corridor will be carried out in the next two months. New York Islanders Authentic Jersey
Share This
