Karnataka RTCs pay Rs 20.55 crore monthly in toll payments, says report

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A report shared by the Karnataka Transport Department showed that the four road transport corporations (RTCs) have made a toll payment of more than Rs 20.55 crore on an average every month.

State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy in the Assembly recently said that the government has requested the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to grant a concession on the toll payment, but NHAI declined the request.

According to data from the Transport Department, the KSRTC averages a monthly toll payment of Rs 10.13 crore, the BMTC Rs 1.3 crore, the NWKRTC Rs 4.54 crore, and the KKRTC’s toll payment amounts to Rs 4.58 crore.

“Earlier, the Kar nataka State Road Transport Corporation(KSRTC) had requested the NHAI for toll concessions for corporation buses, given its status as a State-run public service company. However, the NHAI responded, stating that no such concession would be granted to KSRTC buses,” Reddy said.

In addition to this, the corporations have submitted a proposal to the Public Works Department in the State requesting an exemption of toll charges for buses operated by four corporations on State highways.

The Minister mentioned that as of now, they are yet to receive a response to the proposal.

Reddy stated that in the previous year during November 22, the BMTC had submitted a request to Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Ltd. (NICE) Road seeking toll charge concessions.

The BMTC runs buses from Madawara near BIEC on Tumakuru Road to Electronics City via NICE Road.

Approximately 40% of the Rs 60 ticket price paid by passengers is allocated towards toll charges.