Bengaluru: A cyclist who travelled on a stretch of national highway in Bengaluru has alleged that he was asked to pay a fee of Rs 25 at a toll plaza. A video clip of his verbal altercation with toll plaza staff has gone viral. In the footage, circulating on social media, the cyclist is heard saying he has never encountered such a situation anywhere else in the country.“I’ve travelled across India on my bicycle, but this is the first time I’ve seen anything like this,” he is heard saying in the video. However, the cyclist did not disclose the exact location of the toll plaza. Several users have tagged Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari, questioning the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and calling the episode unacceptable.The incident was later identified as having occurred at the Electronics City toll plaza. An official from Bangalore Elevated Tollway Ltd, which operates the elevated corridor, clarified that the cyclist had accessed the Silk Board-Electronics City elevated corridor of Hosur Road on April 18, in violation of restrictions that prohibit non-motorised vehicles from using the high-speed stretch. The official denied the allegation that the cyclist was charged a toll fee. “Bicycles are prohibited on the elevated corridor because of safety concerns. Warning signboards are installed at entry points,” said the official.According to officials, when the cyclist reached the toll plaza, staff cautioned him for breaching the rules. “No toll was collected from him,” the official maintained, clarifying that toll charges apply only to permitted motorised vehicles such as two-wheelers, cars, and other authorised categories using the elevated corridor, and not to bicycles, which are barred from entry.
