BENGALURU: Union minister H D Kumaraswamy has urged the Karnataka government to immediately stop what he termed “unauthorised” toll collection by NICE, alleging violations in the implementation of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP).
Kumaraswamy has written to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar seeking action against the company and shared the letter on social media platform X.
The Union minister alleged that NICE had violated provisions of the law and the framework agreement governing the infrastructure project. He also raised concerns over compensation to farmers whose land was acquired for the project.
According to Kumaraswamy, several landowners are yet to receive compensation even 23 years after the acquisition, leaving many farmers facing financial hardship.
He urged the state government to take action in accordance with Karnataka High Court and Supreme Court judgments, as well as recommendations made by the Legislative Assembly House Committee and the Cabinet Sub-Committee.
Kumaraswamy further called for legislation to enable the state government to take over the NICE Road project and reiterated that toll collection should be stopped immediately pending necessary action.