After the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, the Center is ready to open another highway in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway on Sunday, March 12. The expressway passing through Nidaghatta is 118 km long and developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost fee approx $8,480 cores. The highway promises to reduce the driving time between Bengaluru and Mysuru to just 75 minutes, a sharp drop from the previous three hours.
On Friday, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the construction of the new highway, which is part of NH-275, will also include 4 rail overpasses, 9 major bridges, 40 small bridges and 89 underpasses and overpass. Prime Minister Modi also reacted to the new highway: “An important connectivity project that will contribute to Karnataka’s growth trajectory.”
Before the inauguration, the police issued a traffic warning. It suggests directions and alternative routes. As advised, vehicles traveling from Mysuru to Bengaluru via Mandya have been advised to take the route Mysuru-Bannur-Kirugavalu-Halaguru-Kanakapura-Bengaluru. Vehicles from Mysuru to Tumakuru via Mandya have been told to take the Mysuru-Srirangapatna-Pandavapura-Nagamangala-Bellur road that cuts across Tumakuru. Vehicles from Tumakuru to Mysuru via Mandya are required to take the Tumakuru-Bellur road through Nagamangala-Pandavapura-Srirangapatna-Mysuru. Vehicles from Bengaluru to Mysuru are required to take the Bengaluru-Channapatna-Halaguru-Malavalli-Kirugavalu-Halaguru-Bannur-Mysuru road. Vehicles traveling from Bengaluru to MM hill via Maddur are required to take the Bengaluru-Halaguru-Malavalli-Kollegala-MM hill route.
The 10-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway begins at the NICE entrance in Bengaluru and ends at the Ring Road interchange in Mysuru. Highways have been designed to reach speeds of 110 to 120 kilometers per hour. Expect the speed limit to be between 100 km/h and 120 km/h.
For safety purposes, NHAI banned two- and three-wheelers from using the highway after toll collection was implemented. Vehicles using Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway are expected to be charged $135 as tolls. NHI may collect fees in stages. Toll collection for the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta section is expected to begin next week while the second phase between Nidaghatta and Mysuru will be carried out after that. Tollgates will have more than 10 gates and provide FASTag lanes for smooth traffic.
The highway will also have some stops. A 30-acre roadside facility is under development at Channapatna. It will provide passengers with food points, restrooms, gas pumps and even electric vehicle charging stations. However, it may take several more months before it becomes fully operational.
The expressway will have 5 bypasses including Srirangapatna Bypass, Mandya Bypass, Bidadi Bypass, 22km section passing through Ramanagara and Channapatna and Maddur Bypass. These bypasses have been built mainly to reduce traffic congestion.
First published date: March 11, 2023, 12:17 pm IST
