Businesses along Bengaluru-Mysuru highway fear impact of proposed decentralised tolling system, new entry/exit points

Subscribed with another email? Logout and Login with that one. Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective. First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming. Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day. Science For All The weekly newsletter from science writers takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in! Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers THEdge At the cutting edge of education and careers Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there Gender Agenda Stories from beyond the binary. The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features. Published - June 11, 2026 11:07 pm IST - Bengaluru The NHAI is planning to establish toll collection points at various entry and exit locations along the 119-km highway, replacing the existing system under which vehicles pay a fixed toll at designated toll plazas. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR Businesses that have come up near entry and exit points along the Bengaluru-Mysuru Access Controlled Highway are worried about their future as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to introduce a decentralised tolling system with multiple toll plazas across the corridor and is planning to shut existing entry/exit points on the stretch. The NHAI is planning to establish toll collection points at various entry and exit locations along the 119-km highway, replacing the existing system under which vehicles pay a fixed toll at designated toll plazas. Under the proposed model, motorists will be charged based on the actual distance travelled. However, the move has triggered concerns among entrepreneurs who have invested heavily in hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, commercial buildings, convenience stores, automobile service centres and other roadside businesses near existing access points, expecting a steady flow of customers from the 10-lane highway. Many fear that if entry and exit points are relocated, modified or closed as part of the new tolling arrangement, their businesses could suffer significant losses. Anil Kumar, who started a restaurant around 350 metres from the Nidaghatta entry and exit point two years ago, said that the investment was made after assessing the location’s potential to attract highway travellers. “I opened this restaurant because commuters using the expressway could conveniently exit here, have a meal and continue their journey. We invested our savings believing this access point would remain operational. Now we are hearing that some entry and exit points may be modified or closed as part of the new tolling system. If that happens, our customer footfall will drop drastically and we may face huge losses,” he said. Similar concerns are being voiced by property owners who have developed commercial infrastructure near the highway. Ganesh R., who constructed a commercial building near Byrapatna village and rented the space to few businesses, said that uncertainty surrounding future access arrangements has already affected commercial activity in the area. “I invested crores of rupees to build this property because the location was close to an entry and exit point. Several businesses have taken space here expecting customers from the highway. Recently, the entry point was closed and only the exit remains operational. Since then, many establishments have reported a decline in customers.” We are also worried about what will happen if future toll plazas are established away from existing access points. Businesses that have already invested based on the current road network could be severely affected he said. Another entrepreneur Mahesh K.N., who is operating a fuel station and convenience store along the corridor, said that the NHAI should consult stakeholders before implementing major changes. “We are not against development or a better tolling system. But the authorities should engage with local businesses and ensure that existing investments are protected. If access points have to be shifted, suitable alternatives must be provided so that businesses do not become isolated from highway traffic,” he said. Copyright© 2026, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Businesses along Bengaluru-Mysuru highway fear impact of proposed decentralised tolling system, new entry/exit points

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