Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai has launched a critique of the Devanahalli toll plaza near Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), questioning the high toll charges and calling for their immediate abolishment.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Pai highlighted the massive ₹308 crore revenue generated by the toll plaza during the 2023-24 financial year, challenging the fairness of charging tolls on the primary route to a major airport. “No airport in India has a toll road before it. Why this discrimination against Bengaluru?” Pai said, tagging Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The toll plaza’s strategic location on National Highway 44 has been a key factor in its revenue collection. Serving as the main highway connecting Bengaluru to KIA, the route sees immense passenger and commercial traffic. In 2023-24, KIA handled 37.53 million passengers and over 439,000 metric tonnes of cargo, significantly contributing to the toll plaza’s earnings.
Over the past decade, the Devanahalli toll plaza has accumulated a staggering ₹1,577 crore in revenue. Pai argues that the charges are unreasonably high and unique, noting it is the only toll road leading directly to an airport in India. He suggests the toll should instead be levied on the Bellary Road after the airport.