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The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Karnataka commercial vehicle operators demand inclusion in FASTag annual toll scheme
A newly announced toll concession for private vehicle users has sparked discontent among commercial transport operators in Karnataka, who argue that they too deserve similar benefits given their heavy use of national highways. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently unveiled an annual FASTag pass scheme for non-commercial vehicles at a fixed cost of ₹3,000, aiming to streamline toll payments and promote digital transactions. The scheme, set to take effect on August 15, 2025, promises significant savings for private motorists but has left the commercial vehicle sector feeling sidelined. While transport unions representing commercial vehicle operators such as cabs, taxis, buses, trucks, goods carriers, and maxi cabs have raised strong objections to their exclusion. These operators argue that they traverse highways far more frequently and incur far higher toll expenses annually, making them deserving of concessional toll packages. 'Private vehicles don't frequently use national highways. They typically hit highways only during long-distance travel. In contrast, commercial vehicles whether it's a long-haul lorry, intercity cab, or a tourist bus cover hundreds of kilometres every single day. They cross numerous toll plazas across multiple states. If toll relief is really the intention, then commercial vehicles should be the first to benefit,' Radhakrishna Holla, president of the Karnataka State Travel Operators Association (KSTOA) told The Hindu. According to Mr. Holla, the KSTOA has written a formal request to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari urging that the annual FASTag scheme be extended to commercial vehicles as well. 'Taxi drivers and public transport providers are among the most frequent users of highways. Even a single cab operator ends up paying more than ₹30,000 annually in tolls. A package like this could significantly reduce their burden, especially when fuel and maintenance costs are already skyrocketing,' he added. Nataraj Sharma, president of the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations, described the toll expenses for commercial vehicles as 'exorbitant and unsustainable.' Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Sharma said, 'We end up shelling out thousands of rupees every year, just on tolls alone. For fleet owners with dozens of vehicles, this cost is multiplied several times over. It's only fair that the government offers similar annual pass options for commercial vehicle operators. These businesses form the backbone of logistics, public transport, and urban mobility. Without support, many small-scale operators will find it difficult to stay afloat.' Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced on June 18 that users of private vehicles will soon be able to make up to 200 highway trips in a year by paying just ₹3,000 in toll fees. 'For a long time, there were concerns over toll fee. This decision will provide a big relief to the public. The average toll fee will come down to ₹15 from ₹50 to ₹100,' Mr. Gadkari said in a video message posted on X. According to him, the new pass available exclusively to private four-wheelers like cars, jeeps, and vans will slash toll costs. The toll fees for 200 trips, which was ₹10,000 currently, would be brought down to ₹3,000 after the annual pass is rolled out, resulting in a huge savings for the public, he said. The government has amended Rule 9 under the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, to implement the annual pass system. A dedicated portal for purchasing and renewing the pass will be made available on the Rajmarg Yatra app as well as through the websites of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and MoRTH.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bengaluru cab operators hit hard as airport closures impact travel industry post-Pahalgam attack
: Passenger transport and cab industry in Bengaluru has taken a hit following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, which has led to the temporary closure of 32 Indian airports until May 15. With air travel witnessing a sharp decline, cab drivers and operators in the city are feeling its ripple effects, particularly those who primarily serve airport-bound passengers and tourists. With both countries reaching an agreement to stop military operations on Saturday evening, the industry was hopeful of airports opening up again, but ceasefire violations by Pakistan on Saturday night has left the industry anxious. Speaking to The Hindu, Karnataka State Travel Operators' Association (KSTOA) president K. Radhakrishna Holla said the situation is now reminiscent of the COVID-19 lockdown days. 'Earlier, we were getting many passengers from the airport. Now, with most of the North Indian airports shut, passenger movement has dropped significantly, though the Bengaluru airport is operating normally. The demand for cabs, especially premium services, has come down drastically. Currently, we are mostly getting bookings from office employees and a few corporate clients. Tourist bookings are barely coming in these days,' he said. Mr. Holla added that while the security situation necessitates these measures, a prolonged disruption could have devastating economic consequences for the sector. 'It is fine that the business is dull now since it is a matter of national security. But if this continues for long, it will affect the transport business on a large scale. Adding to this is the diplomatic fallout after Pakistan receiving vocal support from Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Many Indian tour operators have cancelled packages to these countries. This will indirectly affect us as well, since airport traffic for international departures is likely to remain low. It's similar to the situation when tourists from India began cancelling trips to the Maldives after derogatory remarks were made by Maldivian Ministers about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep in early 2024,' he said. Airport cab drivers, many of whom rely solely on steady flight operations for their daily earnings, are particularly hard-hit. Prakash R., a cab driver who has worked the airport route for the past six years, said: 'I used to get at least four trips a day from the airport. Now, I get one. Sometimes I wait at the airport for six to eight hours, and return empty. The flight arrivals are very low, and most passengers now prefer to stay home or cancel their travel altogether. Our earnings have dropped by more than half.' Another driver, Mahadevappa K.N., who runs a premium SUV cab, said the luxury segment has been the worst affected. 'Business travellers and high-end tourists were our main customers. Now, there's nothing. Some drivers have switched to daily rentals for corporate employees, but that doesn't fetch the same income. We're still paying EMI for our vehicles, and fuel prices haven't come down. If this situation goes on beyond May 15,it will be difficult.'
