Toll collection yet to start

[1]

Toll collection at the Sadarhalli Gate on NH-7 could not start on Monday as there was no police protection. With the cops beefing up security at sensitive areas due to the recent terror plots that were uncovered, there weren’t enough personnel to spare at the toll booths on NH-7, said sources.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has, meanwhile, stated that the toll booths would not be operationalised till there was adequate police to guard the booths.

After receiving the court’s go-ahead to collect tolls, the NHAI had announced on Sunday that toll collection would start from Monday.

Speaking to this newspaper, NHAI project director Mr Surendra Kumar said: “The reason for not starting the toll collection is that we have asked for police support as a precautionary measure. There is no specific reason for asking for protection. We have not asked for any particular number of police personnel to be deployed at the toll booths. It is up to the department to deploy cops as per their estimations.”

The NHAI had asked the Bangalore Police for protection but there has been no response yet. The Bangalore City Police had said that they were busy providing security for the cricket Test match between India and New Zealand at the Chinnaswamy Stadium that ended on Monday.

“As and when the Bangalore City Police deploys cops to guard the booths, we will begin collecting toll from that day midnight,” added Mr Kumar.

Meanwhile, DCP (Law and Order), North East Division, Dr G Ramesh said that they were yet to receive the court order. “Once we go through the court order, police personnel will be deployed as per requirement,” he said.