Kumaraswamy Demands Halt to NICE Road Toll, Cites ₹4,756-Crore Collections
Bengaluru: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H D Kumaraswamy has demanded an immediate halt to NICE Road toll collection, alleging that the company has collected ₹4,756.48 crore despite the Bengaluru–Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor project remaining incomplete.
Speaking at a Bengaluru press conference on October 7, the Union Minister urged the Karnataka government to intervene. He put the original project cost at ₹1,583.76 crore and argued that continued toll collection was unlawful.
Court proceedings cited in toll demand
Kumaraswamy said the Karnataka High Court had strongly criticised toll collection and claimed that the Supreme Court had not granted a stay. Citing those proceedings, he called on the state government to stop collection immediately and urged motorists not to pay.
The project cost, cumulative toll figures and interpretation of the court proceedings were set out by Kumaraswamy in support of his demand.
Latest statement follows wider NICE dispute
The toll demand follows his earlier challenge to the project’s land allocation and planning changes. Our earlier report details Kumaraswamy’s allegations over NICE land deviations and the project framework.
In a previous response to the wider controversy, D K Shivakumar rejected allegations concerning his assets, said they were lawfully acquired and disclosed, and challenged Kumaraswamy to a debate inside the Assembly. Read Shivakumar’s earlier response on his assets and the NICE controversy.
Former legislators Suresh Gowda and Chaudhreddy Thoopalli, Greater Bengaluru JD(S) president H M Ramesh Gowda and state spokesperson H N Devaraju were among those present at the press conference.
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