Bangalore-Mysore Expressway: Facts, cost, latest news

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12, 2023, inaugurated the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. While dedicating the expressway to the nation,  the PM said that connectivity between these two hubs of technology and tradition was important from many angles, and that the expressway would act as a catalyst for socioeconomic development in the region.

The expressway has been upgraded from a state highway to a national highway with 10 lanes. The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project involves 6-laning of the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of the NH-275. Developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 8,480 crore, the 118-km expressway reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around 3 hours to about 90 minutes.

Noting that the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway crosses through the heritage towns of Ramnagar and Mandya, the PM said that the potential for tourism would get a boost while accessibility to the birthplace of Kaveri would also be made possible.

Earlier, road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said that the construction of the expressway aimed to improve accessibility to regions such as Shrirangpatna, Coorg, Ooty and Kerala, bolstering their tourism potential. Gadkari also said that the project encompassed a portion of the NH-275, also entails the development of four rail over-bridges, nine significant bridges, 40 minor bridges and 89 underpasses and overpasses.

Bangalore-Mysore Expressway: Key facts

Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway: Main facts

Name: National Highway 275 (NH-275), Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway

Type: Access-controlled expressway

Status: Operational

Project modal: Project Model: Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)

Development cost: Rs 8,000 crore

Lanes: 6-10

Length: 119 km

Stating point: Bengaluru

Ending point: Bantwal

Foundation laying: March 2018

Inauguration: March 12, 2023

Cities covered: Bengaluru, Kengeri, Bidadi, Ramanagara, Channapatna, Maddur, Mandya, Srirangapattana, Mysuru, Hunsur, Periyapatna, Bylakuppe, Kushalanagar, Madikeri, Sullia, Puttur and Bantwal

Travel time: 3 hours to 90 minutes

 

The Bangalore-Mysore Expressway in Karnataka will substantially reduce the travel time from Bengaluru to Mysuru from 3 hours to 90 minutes only.

“After the completion, the travel time between the two cities would be 90 minutes,” Gadkari said earlier, adding that the expressway will ensure development of tourism in Mysore and Srirangapatna, and also help the IT industry.

“It will enhance connectivity between the two important cities and provide an impetus to tourism and economy in the region. This state-of-art project has multiple structures like 8-km long elevated corridor, 9 major bridges, 42 minor bridges, 64 underpasses, 11 overpasses, 4 ROBs and 5 bypasses which will ease out traffic congestion and significantly reduce pollution,” the road transport ministry said in an official statement.

 

Bangalore-Mysore Expressway toll 2024

The NHAI has increased the toll tax by 22-23% on the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway from April 1, 2023.  On a round trip, the toll tax will go up to Rs 250.

Small vehicles: Rs 165 ( Rs250 on round trip)

Large vehicles: Rs 270 ( Rs405 on round trip)

 

Latest update

Bangalore-Mysore expressway to get 2 refreshment outlets, 24 foot over-bridges

January 10, 2024: The National Highway Authority of India in December 2023 awarded a contract worth Rs 36.5 crore to two companies for building toilet blocks, food outlets and foot overbridges along the Bengaluru-Mysore Expressway. Under the contract, the highway would get 4 toilet blocks, 2 refreshment-cum-toilets facilities and 24 foot over-bridges.

30% accidents on Bangalore-Mysore Expressway involved 2-wheelers

August 4, 2023: Two-wheelers vehicles were involved in 30% of the accidents that took place on the Bangalore-Mysore in the past six months, the road transport ministry has said. Most of these accidents were fatal or grievous injuries, it added.    While 65-75% of vehicles like cars/bikes were involved in over-speeding accidents with speeds up to 160 kmph, 25% accident cases involved rear-end collision, mainly due to slow moving vehicles occupying right most lane and not following lane discipline, data show. Passengers driving two-and-three-wheeler vehicles could use the seven-metre wide, toll-free, two-lane service road that is provided on either side of the highway, the road transport ministry said.

Read full coverage here.

 

Rs 158.81 crore to be spent to improve Bangalore-Mysore Expressway: CM

July 31, 2023: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 28 said the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway had been opened for traffic hastily without completing all the work, including road safety measures. The CM made the remark after inspecting the stretch at Hale Budanur near Mandya.

To rectify the situation, additional work amounting to Rs 158.81 crore will be taken up on the expressway from November this year, the chief minister added. “A proposal for Rs 158.81 crore has already been submitted,” he said. The work is expected to be completed by March 2024.

“I will also meet Union minister for highways Nitin Gadkari and hold a discussion on pending works and collection of toll fee without completing the civil works,” the CM added.

NHAI bans 2-wheelers, auto from plying on Bangalore-Mysore Expressway

July 28, 2023:  From August 1, 2023, two-wheelers, autos, tractors, non-motorised vehicles, multi-axle hydraulic trailer vehicles, and quadricycles will not be able to ply on the main carriageways of the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) imposing a ban.

“The movement of high-speed vehicles may pose a risk to the safety of certain classes of comparatively slow-moving vehicles, for example, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and other slow-moving vehicles like non-motorised vehicles, agricultural tractors (with or without trailers), due to their vulnerability and associated speed differentials, and compromises road safety aspects,” the NHAI said in a notification.

NHAI sets up panel to conduct Bangalore-Mysore Highway safety audit

July 19, 2023: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has constituted a committee of road safety experts to carry out safety inspection of the Bangalore-Mysore Highway to ensure safe travel. The members of the committee are currently inspecting the site and would conclude their study by July 20. The panel will submit the report within 10 days after the conclusion of the visit. “The NHAI has engaged state-of-the-art technologies in building the highway which is contributing towards boosting commerce and acting as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of region. The highway has cut travel time between the two cities in the state of Karnataka by almost half to just 75 minutes. The highway is a testimony of India’s rapidly transforming road infrastructure and the NHAI’s commitment to create a world-class national highway network,” the road and transport ministry said in a statement on July 18.

“Improving safety on national highways is one of the topmost priorities of the NHAI, and it is committed to ensure safe, smooth, and seamless travel experience for all commuters,” it added.

 

Minister orders safety audit of Bangalore-Mysore Expressway: Report

June 26, 2023: Karnataka minister for public works Satish Jarkiholi on June 24 ordered a safety audit of the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway, The Times of India reported. The audit has been ordered amid reports that the recently inaugurated expressway saw more than 500 accidents within five months of being inaugurated. “There may be a few technical issues regarding the construction of the motorway, which will be brought to the attention of Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and we will work together to set things right,” the minister told the publication.

 

2-wheelers may be banned from plying on Bangalore-Mysore Highway

Amid safety concerns, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to launch a move banning 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers and agricultural vehicles from the Bangalore-Mysore Highway.

 

NHAI to address problems at Bangalore-Mysore Expressway: Ministry

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which built the 117-km Bangalore-Mysore Expressway, is working to address certain issues raised by the users of road project, the ministry of road transport and highways said in a stamen released on March 20, 2023.

After completion of a project, the developer is provided 90 days to rectify and finish any issues to ensure smooth riding experience for commuters.

“The rectification of the expansion joints of one of the major bridge-cum-ROB was a part of operation and maintenance of the expressway that was taken up to remove the jerks and improve the riding quality on the bridge. The rectification work has been completed and it is now open for traffic,” the ministry said in its statement. The NHAI is also addressing the drainage issue near the Sagabasavandoddi village. Unprecedented rainfall on March 17, 2023, caused inundation on the carriageway near the Animal Overpass at one point on the 117-km expressway.

“The provision of drainage arrangement at this location was blocked by the villagers by dumping soil over the drain which resulted in stagnation of water on the main carriageway. To address this, the NHAI has laid pipe drain with two rows of pipe to facilitate easy flow of rainwater. The work has been completed on March 19, 2023, and the traffic is flowing smoothly,” the statement added. The issue of non-availability of a service road along the expressway has also been highlighted by local residents. After this, the NHAI has decided to develop a service road.

On a daily basis, nearly 55,000 passenger car units are travelling on the expressway which has reduced the travel time between the two cities from 4 hours to 1.5 hours.