Bengaluru: Former Minister and State Government’s Special Representative in Delhi T.B. Jayachandra has called for the Government to take over the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Road due to the construction of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Monday, Jayachandra stated that there is now no need for a separate entity like NICE, considering the full operational status of the Expressway.

He highlighted that as far back as 2016, he had submitted a comprehensive report from a Legislature Committee he chaired. This report had recomm-ended a thorough investigation into the entire project and the takeover of the additional land granted to NICE. The report had indicted NICE for various violations, including breaching the Framework Agreement (FWA), excessive land acquisition, toll collection without proper road infrastructure, and unauthorised mining.

Jayachandra emphasised that it is the responsibility of the Siddharamaiah-led government to act on the report’s recommendations and assume control of the project in the best interest of the State’s finances and Bengaluru’s development.

He stated that there’s no need for another road project between Bengaluru and Mysuru, as both the Centre and State have already established an eight-lane highway. Addressing the limited options available, the Congress leader stressed that the matter should be referred back to the State Cabinet for further consideration, ultimately requiring a decision from the Cabinet.

The Committee had recommended involving national agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate, and Central Vigilance Commission, or equivalent investigative bodies, to look into the alleged widespread irregularities in executing the multi-crore private infrastructure project.

Jayachandra’s statement takes on significance in light of the announcement by former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who expressed intentions to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The purpose of these meetings would be to request a CBI investigation into the alleged NICE Road scandal.

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Three radar speed guns deployed on Ramanagara stretch; more will arrive in the coming days

Ramanagara: In a concerted effort to curb the escalating number of accidents on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway caused by over-speeding motorists, the Ramanagara Police took action on Tuesday, July 4. Deploying three mobile speed radar guns, they apprehended 44 vehicles (as of 10.30 pm) that had exceeded the permissible speed limit of 100 kmph.

According to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the maximum speed limit on the expressway is set at 100 kmph for light motor vehicles and buses, while trucks have a limit of 80 kmph. However, the speed limit for the overtaking lane is raised to 120 kmph.

Additional Director-General of Police (Traffic and Road Safety) Alok Kumar said that the violators have been booked and their licenses will be impounded. The Police have recommended the suspension of their licences to the relevant Regional Transport Office (RTO).

More mobile radar speed guns will soon be deployed on other sections of the Expressway, including Mandya and other areas, based on the demand until permanent solutions are implemented.

However, the implementation of speed control measures on the Expressway has drawn criticism from some individuals on social media. They argued that the Expressway’s name is misleading, given its speed limitations and the presence of multiple barricades. In fact, one Twitter user went as far as alleging that these measures were simply a means of extorting money from the public.

In response to these concerns, Alok Kumar clarified the objective behind these actions. He emphasised that the primary aim is to control over-speeding and enforce lane discipline.

By adhering to the newly assigned speed limit on the 118-km stretch, travellers can still reach their destinations within two hours from Mysuru. He stressed that exceeding the speed limit and driving at 120 kmph or above pose a significant risk of accidents and loss of control.

He further pointed out that studies have highlighted the lack of driving skills among Indian drivers and the inadequate equipment in vehicles to safely maintain high speeds for extended periods.

The Police have also proposed to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ban the movement of slow-moving vehicles, including two and three-wheelers and tractors, on the expressway. These vehicles can use the service road.

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• No response to victim’s Highway Helpline No. 1033 call
• Car had broken down on way to Mysuru
• Second major robbery in a month; gold, cash worth Rs. 2.58 lakh snatched

Mysore/Mysuru: In a second incident of major robbery reported on the recently inaugurated Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway, four persons (two couples) from Mysuru city were robbed at knife-point between Devarahosahalli and Thittamaranahalli of Channapatna taluk, Ramanagara district.

Though the incident occurred on Monday (Mar. 13) night it has come to light now, causing widespread concern about the safety of the commuters moving on the Expressway, especially after dark. Gold and cash worth Rs. 2.58 lakh were robbed from the couples, who are residents of Mysuru.

It may be recalled here that on Feb. 6, a couple from Mysuru was robbed of their valuables and cash near Mallaiahana Doddi Bore in Mandya. N. Nagaraju, a resident of ‘E & F’ Block, Ramakrishnanagar and his wife L. Jayashree were robbed by a two-member armed gang in the wee hours of Monday (Feb.6). The total worth of valuables including cash is Rs. 3,81,060

In the latest case that occurred on Mar. 13, Lohit Rao, a medical practitioner and a resident of Vidyanagar in Mysuru city, his wife, his friend and his wife were robbed at knife-point around 1.50 am between Devarahosahalli and Thittamaranahalli.

Car had broken down

Their car had broken down in the middle of the night and they were awaiting help when the incident occurred. Unfortunately, though they reached out to the helpline number 1033 set up by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the commuters on the Expressway, there was no response.

In his complaint to Channapatna Rural Police Station lodged at 4 am on Tuesday, Lohit Rao stated that he, his wife Kavya and friends Nitin, Naveen and Naveen’s wife Sowjanya had been to Nayandahalli near Bengaluru to drop off Nitin and were returning to Mysuru on the new Expressway late in the night. As they were travelling, the car developed a snag and came to a screeching halt at a particular point between Devarahosahalli and Thittamaranahalli.

Two accused approach their car

“As our car had broken down we reached out to National Highway Helpline 1033 and there was no response. It was 1 am and we then called for a towing vehicle and we were sitting inside the car waiting. Two persons approached our car at 1.50 am through the service road. They stopped next to our car and started knocking on the windshield. As one of them was wearing khaki-coloured pants, we mistook them for Policemen and stepped out of the car,” Lohit stated in his complaint.

“Both the accused suddenly flashed daggers and held the sharp objects onto the ladies inside the car, demanding them to surrender and hand over cash and valuables. We did not have any other option and had to hand over all our valuables. After robbing us, the duo casually walked alongside the main road and disappeared in the dark on a two-wheeler,” Lohit Rao added.

The complainant has stated that all of them lost gold including rings and chains and cash in the incident and the total value of the gold and cash is Rs. 2,58,000.

Dy.SP on the rounds

After the robbery, the victims called the Police Control Room to report the incident. Channapatna Rural Police told Star of Mysore this morning that on the night of Mar. 13, teams headed by Rural Dy.SP were on night rounds and the officer had spotted the car in the middle of the Expressway.

Seeing the car, the Police stopped to enquire and the occupants of the car told the Dy.SP that their vehicle had broken down and they had already contacted the NHAI Helpline. The Dy.SP advised them to leave the place soon after the repair works are done, a Policeman said. The victim Lohit Rao mentioned his interaction with the Police in his complaint. 

Professional gang

After the victims called the Control Room, a Police team rushed to the spot and brought the victims to the Police Station and their statements were recorded. Investigating the case, the Police took three suspects into custody and they were produced before the victims, but the victims did not identify them indicating that it is a separate gang that is involved in the crime.

Police said that based on the statements given by the victims, the accused looked like professionals. A case of robbery under IPC Section 392 (highway robbery) has been registered.

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Bengaluru: The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway is aimed at addressing traffic woes, but a traffic expert has his own apprehension. He feels that highway does more harm than good, further affecting the traffic density in both Mysuru and Bengaluru.

Dr.  Ashish Verma, Mobility Expert, Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bengaluru, has observed that there is already traffic congestion at both the entry and exit points of the Expressway. It is due to an increase in the number of individual vehicles. Instead of addressing the traffic-related issues, it may fuel the issue further as the time saved on the Expressway is lost in a traffic jam, which will worsen further in the future, he said.

To address the issue, Ashish Verma has suggested introducing Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).  While entering Mysuru City, there is a traffic jam at Manipal Hospital Junction and hence there is a demand to build a flyover, added Verma. After diverting the traffic through the flyover, another flyover will be proposed and built. How many flyovers will Government build to address traffic snarls, he asked.

Undoubtedly, the Expressway cuts down travel time but it won’t be the long-lasting solution. For example, the Hebbal flyover has turned into a chock-a-block, which was not the case before connecting Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Now, due to increase in the traffic density, the issues have become common, said Verma.

The issue can be addressed by taking up expansion activities by acquiring lands. It can be also used for laying High-Speed Rail Lines and running Vande Bharat-like high-speed trains, explained Verma.

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Bengaluru: An agitation has been launched by political parties against the toll collection for the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Opposition Congress has joined the protests, with its State Chief D.K. Shivakumar (DKS) demanding building of service roads, and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai blaming him for politicising the National Highway issue.

On Thursday, Bommai said, “Karnataka Congress President (DKS) has politicised the National Highway issue. It is an imaginary problem created by him. The language used by Shivakumar has not been appreciated by Kannadigas. Everything is being done as per the law.”

Before the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) came in, everyone knew it would be a tolled road. It is being politicised, especially by DKS, not the common people. His use of language, his conduct won’t bring respect to Kannadigas,” Bommai said.

Several political parties including JD(S) have held protests at the toll plaza on the Expressway near Ramanagara, opposing the toll collection. The protesters are opposed to collecting toll fees until the entire project is completed.

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Congress workers, pro-Kannada activists attempt to lay siege at Kaniminike near Bidadi, Sheshagirihalli near Ramanagar on the Highway

Mysore/Mysuru: Tension prevailed for over an hour as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) started collecting toll on 56-km section of Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway till Nidaghatta from 8 am today, with Congress workers, pro-Kannada activists and other organisations making a bid to lay siege to Toll Plazas on the Highway, bringing the traffic to a grinding halt. The issue flared up two days after Prime Minister Modi dedicated the Expressway on Mar.12 at Gejjalagere near Mandya, claiming that the BJP led NDA Government is building Highways across the country.

Activists of pro-Kannada organisations attempted to lay siege to the Plaza near Kaniminike in the outskirts of Bengaluru, only to be thwarted by heavy Policemen, who had turned the Plaza into a fortress.

The technical glitches at the Toll Plaza made FASTag redundant and forced the card holders to pay the toll by cash.

The payment of toll by cash irked the already charged agitators further, who demanded the authorities concerned to rectify the issues, before collecting the toll.

At another Toll Plaza near Sheshagirihalli, Ramanagar, a section of Congress party workers under the banners of District Youth Congress Committee, Ramanagar and Bidadi Block Congress Committee protested the collection of toll, besides raising slogans against BJP led State and Central Governments for imposing the toll even as the works on basic infrastructural facilities, mainly service road remain to be completed.

They sat in the middle of the Highway and held empty milk cans, waved black flags opposing the imposition of toll. They alleged that the toll is also high burning the pockets of commuters of private vehicles (cars, LMVs and HMVs).

The protesters also engaged in a wordy duel with the Police for sometime. As the agitators refused to budge, the Police had to detain some of them and whisked them away in two KSRTC buses, thus facilitating the traffic movement.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who claimed to be seized of the matter, said that he has also directed the authorities concerned to redress the issues.

It may be mentioned that NHAI had earlier decided to start collecting toll from Feb.28, but was deferred to Mar.14, in the wake of opposition from various quarters.

The toll on 118-km Expressway is expected to go up further, once the toll is introduced on Nidaghatta – Mysuru section too, the works of which are still ongoing, under the second package, in the coming days.

Toll packages

The vehicles have been categorised into six types. To travel on the Highway, car owners will have to pay Rs. 135 for a single trip on Bengaluru-Nidaghatta section, Rs. 205 for the return journey within a day. The toll for mini bus is Rs. 220 and for buses Rs. 460 (single journey).

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets on new Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway

Mysore/Mysuru: The Mysuru-Bengaluru 10-lane Access-Controlled Expressway is set to be inaugurated next month. The project has won Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praises as he took to Twitter saying that it is the story of world-class infrastructure and unprecedented growth in Karnataka.

Yesterday, he replied to a tweet done by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Bommai tweeted a drone shot of the newly made Expressway. The image also showed the high-speed train Vande Bharat Express passing underneath a road-over-bridge section of the 10-lane Expressway.

“What a view! 10-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway alongside Vande Bharat Express, a visual depicting the story of world class infrastructure & unprecedented growth in Karnataka. Under Hon’ble PM @narendramodi Ji, our Double Engine government is working wonders in the state,” Bommai wrote while posting a video clip on his Twitter handle on Friday.

PM Modi retweeted the Bommai’s post writing, “Our people deserve the best possible infrastructure, which our Government will always work hard to provide. Our strides in infra creation have been widely lauded.”

The work on the Expressway commenced in May 2019 and December 2019 in two phases. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed down the progress. The Expressway is expected to be fully operational and completed by next month. Previously it had a deadline of October 2022.

The Expressway comprises six-lane and four service roads. The more than Rs. 8,000-crore project is expected to bring down the travel time between Mysuru and Bengaluru from 3 hours to 90 minutes.

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Mysuru: With the 10-lane Access-Controlled Expressway between Mysuru and Bengaluru expected to be inaugurated soon by Prime Minister Modi, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will conduct an inspection of the Highway tomorrow (Jan. 5).

The inspection assumes significance as many elected representatives including former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, MLC Dinesh Gooligowda, MP Sumalatha and many local JD(S) MLAs alleging that the highway works are unscientific and sub-standard with problems of flooding, road blockages and lack of entries and exits for villagers who have given land for project.

The Highway with a design length of 118 km is expected to reduce the present travel time of three hours between Bengaluru and Mysuru to 90 minutes. Gadkari will conduct an aerial survey between 11.15 am and 12.15 pm. He will also ride on a stretch near Jeeganahalli village in Ramanagara. The work on most of the stretches is completed and it is likely to be formally opened before the Assembly elections.

The Union Minister will later hold a meeting with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Gadkari will also review the progress of work on other National Highways in the State along with the CM at 5.30 pm.

As the Expressway is nearing completion, there are reports doing the rounds on naming it. While MP Pratap Simha has demanded that the Expressway be named Cauvery Expressway, leaders like former CM and senior BJP leaders S.M. Krishna and Chamarajanagar MP V. Sreenivasa Prasad, MLCs Dinesh Gooligowda and MadhuMadegowda want it named after Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.

Gadkari will also inspect the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway project. This 262-km stretch connects Bengaluru Ring Road with Chennai Outer Ring Road.

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