Toll up on Bengaluru airport road from April 1; cars to pay Rs 120 for single journey: Report
Bengaluru: In a move that will add to the travel expenses of commuters, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will raise toll fees at several key toll plazas from April 1, 2025. The increased charges will apply to the Sadahalli (KIA Road, NH 7), Hulikunte, and Nalluru Devanahalli (STRR, NH 648) toll plazas.
This annual toll hike is linked to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and will affect all types of travellers, including those using personal vehicles, cabs, and public transport (Vayu Vajra bus services), as reported by Deccan Herald on Thursday.
For light motor vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans passing through Sadahalli, the new toll charges will be Rs 120 for a single journey, and Rs 180 for a return journey within the same day. A monthly pass for 50 single journeys will cost Rs 3,970. The existing rates are Rs 115, Rs 170, and Rs 3,835, respectively.
For light commercial vehicles and mini buses, the new rates will be Rs 185 for a single journey, Rs 275 for a return journey, and Rs 6,100 for a monthly pass. The existing charges are Rs 175, Rs 265, and Rs 5,890.
Meanwhile, trucks and buses will have to pay Rs 370 for a single journey, Rs 550 for a return journey within a day, and Rs 12,265 for a monthly pass, added DH. The existing rates are Rs 355, Rs 535 and Rs 11,845.
Cars and other light motor vehicles using the 42-km Dobbspet-Doddaballapur stretch of the STRR will pay Rs 110 for a single journey, Rs 165 for a return journey, and Rs 3,615 for monthly pass at the Hulikunte toll plaza. The existing rates are Rs 105, Rs 155, and Rs 3,490.
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PM Modi to flag off first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir on April 19, says Jitendra Singh
Jammu (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir on April 19 from Katra, marking the completion of the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project.
The Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will initially operate from Katra as the Jammu railway station is undergoing renovation.
According to officials, the rail link project was completed last month. Trial runs of the train on the Katra-Baramulla route have been successfully conducted. The Commissioner of Railway Safety approved the train service between Katra and Kashmir in January, they said.
The Vande Bharat Express is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, providing a modern and efficient rail service for the region, they said.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu on Sunday, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, "Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19. He will visit the world's highest railway bridge and inaugurate it. After that, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra."
The inauguration of the train will fulfil a long demand for direct rail connectivity to Kashmir. Currently, train services operate only between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the Valley and from Katra to destinations across the country.
Officials said the ambitious project to link Kashmir by train began in 1997 but faced multiple delays due to geological, topographical, and meteorological challenges.
The project includes 38 tunnels spanning a total of 119 km, with the longest among them being the 12.75 km-long Tunnel T-49. It is also the country's longest transportation tunnel.
The project also features 927 bridges, covering a combined length of 13 kilometres. Among them is the iconic Chenab Bridge, which has an overall length of 1,315 meters, an arch span of 467 meters, and stands 359 meters above the riverbed. Being 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, it is set to be the world’s highest arch railway bridge.
