Over the past five years, the Central Government has spent approximately ₹43,796 crore on the development and maintenance of national highways in Karnataka, while toll collection from these highways has reached around ₹16,140 crore, according to official data shared in Parliament and infrastructure reports.
The spending places Karnataka among the top states in highway investment, with large-scale projects being implemented under the National Highways Authority of India in coordination with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Focus on expansion-driven development
Officials said a significant portion of the funds has been directed towards expansion and upgradation of national highways, rather than routine maintenance. Key works include:
Widening of existing highway corridors
Construction of new expressways and economic corridors
Strengthening of major inter-state road links
The projects are being executed through models such as Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) to attract private participation.
Toll revenue rises steadily
During the same five-year period, Karnataka has collected about ₹16,140 crore in toll revenue, making it one of the higher contributors nationally.
The rise in toll collections has been attributed to:
Expansion of tollable highway stretches
Increased vehicular traffic
Wider implementation of FASTag-based electronic toll collection
Concerns over maintenance gap
While infrastructure spending continues to grow, concerns have been raised over the gap between rapid expansion and maintenance quality. Reports indicate that certain stretches have experienced structural issues, raising questions about long-term durability and upkeep.
