Centre approves Rs 711.72 crore upgrade for Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway to enhance safety and access

The Central Government has cleared a Rs 711.72 crore project to revamp the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, aiming to rectify critical safety and accessibility issues that have plagued the corridor since its inauguration. The six-lane expressway, spanning 118 km and built at a cost of nearly Rs 9,000 crore, has witnessed a high number of accidents, mainly attributed to poor access planning and missing infrastructure elements.

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Frequent accidents near areas like Bidadi and Mandya, where exits and entries were either inadequately constructed or completely absent, have raised public concern. Commuters have long demanded better infrastructure, especially at junctions lacking scientific planning. In response, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been assigned to implement a two-year upgrade plan to plug these gaps.

As part of the improvement plan, 14 new entry and exit ramps will be added, each with dual toll booths to support efficient traffic flow and fair tolling based on distance travelled. A 22.5 km stretch of service roads will be constructed to boost local connectivity. The project also includes seven pedestrian underpasses, three railway overbridges, one flyover in Mysuru near Manipal Hospital junction, 35 bus shelters, and two truck bays.

The new infrastructure aims to reduce traffic bottlenecks and improve commuter safety by addressing long-pending gaps in planning, particularly the absence of pedestrian facilities and irrational toll collection systems. A rational tolling model will now ensure that users are charged based on the portion of the expressway they actually use, reducing the burden on local travelers.

Though the contractor for this comprehensive upgrade has already been finalized, the official launch date of the project is yet to be announced.