A Division Bench of Karnataka High Court on Thursday stayed the single judge’s order directing National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to give free resident passes. These passes allow local residents free daily use of the Somanahalli toll plaza on the Bengaluru-Kanakapura stretch of NH-209. The Bench, led by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha, passed the interim stay on NHAI’s appeal against the judgment dated January 28. The stay remains till the next hearing on April 23. The NHAI told the court that the toll plaza is operational and locals refuse to pay tolls citing the earlier order. NHAI’s counsel also referenced Supreme Court rulings allowing toll collection within municipal limits. The single judge had ruled that a toll plaza within 10 km of city limits is against the National Highways Fee Rules, 2008, even if the plaza was outside municipal limits at approval time. The earlier order required NHAI to issue free passes within 30 days to verified local residents and to stop collecting user fees. If not done, the toll plaza had to be moved beyond 10 km from city limits. The single judge rejected NHAI’s claim that locals could buy nominal monthly passes and pointed out that cars are now essential for daily needs, not luxury. The issue affects daily commuters at the busy Somanahalli toll plaza on NH-209.