Toll charges in Karnataka to rise from April 1

Vehicle users across Karnataka may have to pay more at toll plazas from April 1, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) prepares to implement its annual revision of user fees linked to inflation.

According to officials, the revised toll rates based on changes in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) are expected to be notified in the coming days. The hike will apply to nearly all toll plazas in the State, although around 10 toll plazas are likely to see the increase later from September 1.

A senior NHAI official said that the increase is expected to remain moderate this year. “The proposed revision in toll charges is likely to be in the range of up to 5% in line with the movement of the Wholesale Price Index”.

Key stretches where commuters will be affected include the airport toll road, the Bengaluru–Mysuru access-controlled highway, Bagepalli toll plaza in Chikkaballapur, Gadduru toll plaza in Kolar, the Satellite Town Ring Road, and several other tolled corridors across Karnataka.

An NHAI official said that the revision is part of a standard annual exercise carried out across the country. “The toll fee adjustment is linked to the Wholesale Price Index to account for inflation and rising maintenance costs of national highways. This ensures that road infrastructure continues to be maintained at high standards while also supporting ongoing upgrades and expansion projects. The revision is implemented uniformly every year from April 1, following due process and approvals,” the official said.

Meanwhile, data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways accessed by The Hindu shows that Karnataka has witnessed a sharp increase in user fee collections over the past five years. Collections have nearly doubled from ₹1,866 crore in 2020–21 to over ₹4,320 crore in 2024–25.

Officials attribute this rise to increased vehicular traffic, expansion of tolled highway networks, and improved compliance through FASTag-based electronic toll collection systems.