BIA: Lorry owners against toll

BANGALORE: Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners & Agents  Association (FKSLOA), Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association (BTTOA), Bangalore City Lorry Owners  Agents  Association and various other associations have strongly opposed the collection of toll from the vehicles plying to and fro the Bangalore International Airport (BIA).Speaking to reporters on Friday, G R Shanmugappa, President, FKSLOA said, “Vehicles will stop plying the day when our vehicles are asked to pay the toll. Across the State, no other city has toll roads to airport. The toll collection booth as per the guidelines should not be within 10 kms of BBMP limits.”He further said they are paying Rs 9,750 to the airport towards parking and halting charges. Even the Airport Authority of India has opposed the collection of toll, he claimed.“We have already given our letters to the Chief Minister on this note. About 25,000 vehicles including taxis, maxi cab, and lorries will stop their operations the day the tolls are started to collect”, said K Radha Krishna Holla, Secretary of the  Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association .