Pay more for milk, electricity, toll and new solid waste cess from today

As the new financial year begins today (April 1), consumers across Karnataka will have to shell out more for some basics, as the hikes in milk price, electricity fixed charges, toll fee, and the introduction of a solid waste management cess in Bengaluru will come into effect.

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As the new financial year begins today (April 1), consumers across Karnataka will have to shell out more for some basics, as the hikes in milk price, electricity fixed charges, toll fee, and the introduction of a solid waste management cess in Bengaluru will come into effect.

The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) recently announced an increase in the prices of its Nandini brand of milk and curd. The revised rates reflect a hike of ₹4 per litre across different variants. As per the updated prices, toned milk (blue packet) will now cost ₹46 per litre (up from ₹42), homogenised toned milk will be priced at ₹47 (₹43 previously), the green packet variant will rise to ₹50 (₹46 earlier), while the premium Shubham (orange packet) will cost ₹52 (₹48 previously). Curd prices have also been revised from ₹50 to ₹54 per litre.

Consumers across the State will also see an increase in electricity bills from April 1, with the revised charges reflecting in May’s billing cycle. While the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has reduced energy charges by 10 paise per unit, it has increased fixed charges by ₹25 for 2025-26, by ₹5 in 2026-27, and by ₹10 in 2027-28.

Motorists will have to pay higher toll from April 1 as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) implements its annual toll revision across Karnataka. Over 60 toll plazas will see an increase in rates, including those on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and the toll plaza near Kempegowda International Airport.

While the hike varies across highways, the lowest increase will be ₹5. An NHAI official explained that the toll revisions are not based on a fixed percentage but are instead linked to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation under the National Highways Fee Rules. This adjustment is part of a nationwide annual revision, ensuring that toll rates align with inflationary trends, official added.

From April 1, residents of Bengaluru will also be required to pay a solid waste management (SWM) user fee, as per a circular issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on March 4. The measure has been included in the civic body’s budget, with BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath stating that the target is to generate ₹685 crore in revenue from the user fee, which will be collected along with property tax.