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Bengalureans who fly frequently have a cause for cheer, but it comes with its limitations.
The National Highways Authority of India is levying toll on commuters travelling to the airport from the city on the existing route. This move came after the much-awaited alternate toll-free road to the Kempegowda International Airport – via Hennur, RK Hegde Nagar, Bagaluru and Begur – was introduced.
So far, commuters only had to pay a toll while returning from the airport. They paid a one-way toll of Rs 120 while returning to the city from the airport.
On Sunday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the alternate route amidst much fanfare, just before the Assembly poll dates are announced by the Election Commission of India, after which the Model Code of Conduct will kick in.
The possibility of toll being levied at the Devanahalli Plaza was discussed even before the completion of the alternate route. This came with the fear that there would be traffic snarls on Ballari Road, but these will now be shifted to the new road. Currently, the toll on the stretch is collected only while returning from the airport.
However, he assured that there won’t be traffic pile-up leading to the airport.
The alternate route was proposed to be a boon for city dwellers living in the eastern part of the city, which includes KR Puram, Baiyappanahalli and CV Raman Nagar, and to also ease the flow of traffic on Hebbal Flyover and the following parts on the existing route.
The access to the new road is plagued with problems – work is still ongoing on the inaugurated Hennur flyover, and underlying stretches still require work for the alternate route to be beneficial.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary (PWD) Lakshminarayana assured that the newly laid roads will be able to handle the traffic.
(This article was originally published in The NewsMinute and has been republished with permission.)
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