NHAI, the National Highways Authority of India, has initiated bold steps towards making day-to-day challenges of residents more easy by relocating Bankapur toll plaza to another new place near Kunimellahalli. This, in pursuit of making things easy for local people, complies with government’s policy against placing such structures too close to any town.
Why the relocation is happening
The key driving factor behind this change is that toll plazas must not be located within the urban limits. Bankapur being a town panchayat comes under this prohibition. The new toll plaza will be placed at an approximate distance of 5 km from Bankapur, and it will be located closer to Haveri City in order to adhere to the guidelines and also for the ease of the people.
The move follows growing unrest among Bankapur residents forced to pay toll charges for what seemed like a short distances on the NH. As many locals reported, these daily inconveniences proved to be a frequent source of conflict over toll plaza staff. And this was not ideal as the residents could complain about unnecessary financial constraints.
Impact on Local Residents
In terms of the toll plaza, frustration remains to many residents of Bankapur; its presence was a pain where commotion and congestion were constant even for people traveling only few kilometres. Bankapur native Parashuram Satyappanavar said: “It’s a great decision by the Union government. Every day we go through some kind of problems while crossing the toll plaza. We cover 5 km of distance each day but have to pay for that. That hurts our pockets. But this time, it’s all joy news as the toll plaza is to be shifted 5 km away from that place”.
The relocation to Kunimellahalli, which is further away from the town’s urban area, will help solve these issues. Commuters who had to pay tolls for shorter distances will now have a smoother route without the added cost. This will greatly ease the tension and frustration of the locals who felt they were being penalized for their daily travel.
Government’s Response to Toll Plaza Concerns
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken very seriously the concerns of residents, and a new policy was introduced regarding toll plaza locations. According to this policy, toll plazas cannot be located closer than 6 to 7 kilometers from cities and industrial zones. This means that residents and daily commuters will not be made to pay unfair tolls for traveling short distances. Following these rules, NHAI makes sure that the toll plazas are located in places more suitable for long-distance travelers than towards highly populated urban areas.
What to Expect in New Toll Plaza:
The relocation of the Bankapur toll plaza to Kunimellahalli will benefit local residents in commuting. NHAI has already completed the tender process for the construction of a new 12-lane toll plaza at the new site. This plaza will have all essential administrative facilities and other infrastructure necessary to make the toll collection process smoother and more efficient.
The new toll plaza, which is coming up shortly, would address the issues of the current location besides improving the overall traffic flow of the place. NHAI wants to cut congestion and provide better connectivity by bringing the toll plaza at a closer distance to Haveri City.
Conclusion
This decision to shift the Bankapur toll plaza towards Kunimellahalli marks a significant step in streamlining the daily commute experience of the residents of Bankapur and its surrounding areas. With the construction of a modern toll plaza 5 km away from the town, the residents expect a smoother and cost-effective travel experience. Many would be relieved as the project progresses, showing the commitment of the government to serve the needs of its people and improve their quality of life.
The commuters at Bankapur can finally heave a sigh of relief that this will ease the burden which has been faced by them for a long time, because of the relocation of the toll plaza.
Refer:
TOI, Link to article
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