Following the recent hike in toll charges on the NICE Road, commuters in Bengaluru are bracing for a double whammy as the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is highly likely to increase bus ticket fares. Driven by rising diesel prices and severe financial constraints, BMTC had already submitted a proposal to the state government requesting a 44% hike in overall ticket fares. The sudden surge in toll rates on major arterial routes has now intensified the possibility of an immediate fare hike for buses operating on these specific corridors. Passengers and motorists have expressed strong dissatisfaction, with speculations indicating that BMTC ticket prices on toll routes could go up by ₹20 to ₹25.
The Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) implemented a 10% increase in toll rates across all its seven major corridors, including key stretches like Mysore Road to Magadi Road, Magadi Road to Tumakuru Road, and Hosur Road to Bannerghatta Road. This revision comes exactly a year after the company's last toll hike in July. Under the new rate structure, the bus toll for the Mysore Road to Magadi Road stretch has jumped from ₹205 to ₹226. Similarly, car owners will now have to pay ₹77 instead of ₹70, while truck toll rates have been raised from ₹140 to ₹154. Regular motorists have vented their anger against the authorities, complaining that toll prices are being increased far too frequently without a corresponding improvement in infrastructure.
The impact of these dual toll hikes will be felt heavily on BMTC buses operating via Madavara and the Nelamangala toll plaza. With toll fees rising at both ends, the transport corporation is planning to increase ticket fares specifically for buses commuting from Nelamangala and Madavara toward Electronic City. This proposed adjustment of ₹20 to ₹25 has triggered intense outrage among daily commuters who rely on public transit. As the Transport Ministry continues to push the Cabinet for a city-wide fare revision to offset diesel price hikes, Bengaluru residents now face a challenging financial burden from both expensive highway tolls and costlier bus commutes.
