Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai has raised concerns about the toll charges at the Devanahalli toll plaza, situated on the route to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). In a recent post on X (previously Twitter), Pai criticized the hefty fees, calling for their immediate elimination. Highlighting the ₹308 crore revenue generated by the plaza in the 2023-24 fiscal year, he questioned the fairness of imposing tolls on the primary access road to one of India’s busiest airports. “No other airport in the country has a toll road leading to it. Why single out Bengaluru?” Pai wrote, tagging Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The toll plaza, located on National Highway 44, plays a pivotal role in connecting the city to KIA. Its prime location ensures substantial revenue from heavy traffic, with the airport handling 37.53 million passengers and transporting over 439,000 metric tonnes of cargo in 2023-24. Over the past ten years, the plaza has amassed an astonishing ₹1,577 crore. Pai contends the toll is excessive and unprecedented, emphasizing that Bengaluru is uniquely burdened with this expense.
He proposes shifting the toll collection to Bellary Road, away from the airport’s approach road, to relieve travelers. His critique has reignited the debate on fairness and the financial burden placed on commuters heading to KIA.
The controversy raises critical questions about infrastructure costs and accessibility in India’s growing urban hubs.
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