Bengaluru: The Public Works Department (PWD) issued a notice to Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) on Friday seeking its response in seven days on why rates had been hiked without the approval of the State government.

According to Lakshminarayana M. principal secretary, PWD, NICE authorities were supposed to have sent a proposal for hiking the toll to the State government for approval.

Additionally, the framework agreement between the government and NICE has been challenged in the High Court of Karnataka. In such a situation, Lakshminarayana said that the hike in toll rates was unilateral.

The rates were revised in July for the first time since 2013 on the private road. Toll rates for cars saw an increase of as much as Rs. 7 on some routes and Rs. 4 on others. The corresponding increase for heavier vehicles was higher which could lead to a fare hike in BMTC buses that ply on this road.