Puttur: Motorists travelling between Bengaluru and Mangaluru on National Highway 75 (NH-75) will soon face an additional toll, as the new toll plaza at Bajattur village near Uppinangady is nearing completion. The project, part of the BC Road–Addahole four-lane upgrade, has entered its final stage, and officials expect toll collection to commence by April 2026.
New facility part of four-lane expansion
The upcoming toll plaza is being built by KNR Construction Ltd, which holds the contract for the 46-km stretch from BC Road to Periyashanthi. Located between Valalu and Neerakatte in Bajattur, the plaza is designed with eight lanes — four in each direction — to facilitate smooth traffic flow.
Supervisors overseeing the site confirmed that construction work is “almost complete” and will be fully operational within the next couple of months. Dedicated lanes for two-wheelers and autorickshaws have also been included to ensure better traffic management and safety.
Toll collection expected after final roadwork
According to project officials, toll collection will commence only after the completion of pending roadwork on the remaining stretches of the BC Road–Addahole project. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will issue an official notification before toll collection begins, detailing toll rates, exemptions for local vehicles, and the agency responsible for collection.
Currently, motorists travelling between Bengaluru and Mangaluru encounter six toll plazas — five between Nelamangala and Sakaleshpur, and one at Brahmarakootlu near BC Road in Dakshina Kannada district. The new Bajattur toll plaza will become the seventh on this busy highway.
Additional toll raises travel cost concerns
While the new plaza is expected to improve infrastructure maintenance and safety, frequent commuters and transport operators have expressed concerns over rising toll expenses along the route. “With seven toll gates now on this stretch, the cost of long-distance travel for both private and commercial vehicles will go up,” said a local transporter from Uppinangady.
However, officials maintain that the toll structure will adhere to NHAI’s standardised framework, ensuring fairness and transparency. The new facility, they added, will also provide amenities such as rest areas, CCTV surveillance, and automated toll collection systems for seamless travel.
A push towards modern road infrastructure
The BC Road–Addahole four-laning is a crucial part of the Bengaluru–Mangaluru economic corridor, aimed at improving freight movement and reducing travel time between the two cities. Once operational, the upgraded stretch is expected to cut travel time by nearly an hour, while offering smoother connectivity to coastal and industrial regions.
Local residents have welcomed the improved road infrastructure but urged authorities to consider discounted passes for regular commuters and ensure that toll revenue is reinvested in road safety and maintenance.