Karnataka HC issues notice to Centre, NHAI over 'illegal toll' collection
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Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Central Government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) over a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning alleged illegal toll collection at the Nagasandra toll plaza on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Joshi considered the petition filed by advocate A.V. Amarnathan and directed the Centre and NHAI to respond. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on September 17.
The PIL alleges that the toll collection contract at Nagasandra plaza expired in 2021, yet toll continues to be collected, primarily via FASTag, from vehicles using the highway that connects nearly 20 districts across Karnataka. The petition claims that this ongoing toll collection is illegal, arbitrary, and unauthorised, especially since it falls within the city limits.
It further demands full disclosure of toll revenue collected at the Nagasandra plaza from 2021 to date, raising concerns over the continued collection of lakhs of rupees daily despite the expiration of the authorised contract.
The case comes amid growing scrutiny over toll operations across the country. In a major crackdown earlier this year, the NHAI had barred 14 toll collection agencies for irregularities following a probe initiated by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), which uncovered fraudulent practices. As a result of the investigation, 13 user fee-collecting agencies were debarred for two years in March 2025.
Parliament was earlier informed that Rs 12.55 lakh in refunds were issued in 2024 due to faulty toll collections on National Highways. The NHAI also stated that more than Rs 2 crore had been imposed as fines on user fee-collecting agencies for incorrect toll deductions.
The High Court’s notice is the latest development in a series of measures seeking accountability and transparency in toll collection practices across the country.
With IANS inputs
