Bengaluru: From midnight of July 1, commuters using Bengaluru’s NICE (Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise) Road will face revised toll charges, with the hike affecting thousands of daily travelers. While motorists on two-wheelers and in cars will see a marginal increase of ₹3 to ₹5 per trip, bus and truck operators will experience steeper hikes ranging from ₹10 to ₹25, depending on the route and distance covered.

The toll revision is part of a scheduled update under the concession agreement signed between NICE Ltd. and the Karnataka government on September 4, 2000. According to the Deccan Herald, these updates are legally mandated to ensure the private operator recovers costs related to road maintenance and operational expenses over time.

The NICE Road, officially called the Bangalore–Mysore Infrastructure Corridor, remains a crucial arterial route for the city’s traffic, connecting several major highways and easing congestion in southern and western Bengaluru. The toll increase, though marginal for private vehicles, comes amid growing concerns about the overall rise in the cost of commuting in Bengaluru, especially in the backdrop of the recent bike taxi ban that has triggered protests and hunger strikes by riders seeking restoration of the service.

Under the revised toll structure, cars traveling on the stretch from Hosur Road to Bannerghatta Road (8.74 km) will now pay ₹65, while two-wheelers will pay ₹30. Bus operators will pay ₹195 and trucks ₹128 for the same route. On the Bannerghatta Road to Kanakapura Road section (6.79 km), cars will be charged ₹48, buses ₹155, trucks ₹98, and two-wheelers ₹15.

Other revised charges include:

  • Kanakapura Road to Cloverleaf Junction (4.36 km): ₹35 for cars, ₹95 for buses, ₹60 for trucks, ₹10 for two-wheelers
  • Cloverleaf Junction to Mysuru Road (3.88 km): ₹33 for cars, ₹85 for buses, ₹50 for trucks, ₹10 for two-wheelers
  • Mysuru Road to Magadi Road (9.55 km): ₹70 for cars, ₹205 for buses, ₹140 for trucks, ₹30 for two-wheelers
  • Magadi Road to Tumakuru Road (7.48 km): ₹55 for cars, ₹160 for buses, ₹105 for trucks, ₹25 for two-wheelers
  • Link Road (8.10 km): ₹75 for cars, ₹200 for buses, ₹135 for trucks, ₹23 for two-wheelers

Though the revised rates are part of a routine update, the higher tolls for commercial vehicles could potentially translate into increased transportation costs, which may indirectly affect prices of goods and daily commutes for passengers.

The NICE Road Authority has advised commuters to check the new toll rates in advance to plan their journeys accordingly.