The proposed work will include the construction of railway overbridges on the service road, underpasses, and overpasses where required.
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: The closed toll system on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway is projected to be completed by mid-2027, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) floating tenders to set up toll booths at 28 spots identified along the highway.
Well-placed sources confirmed that the tendering process is underway; bidders will be identified and work will begin within the next six months.
The proposed period of work completion is two years at a cost of Rs 711 crore, which will include the construction of railway overbridges on the service road, underpasses and overpasses where required.
“The tolled entry/exit points will be as per IRC (Indian Road Congress) standards with necessary loops and a toll booth for vehicles to pay just for the distance they have travelled. This could also reduce the load on the service road,” said a senior NHAI official.
Authorities believe this will encourage more road users, including those going to towns and villages that the highway cuts through, to use the access-controlled highway as they would no longer have to pay the full toll amount. These proposed tolled entry/exit points include Bidadi, Maddur, Malur and Ramanagara, a source in the know said.
Additionally, this is likely to aid in easing the traffic congestion seen on and near the service road starting before the Kaniminike toll plaza, which sees thousands of vehicle users bypassing the highway’s toll fee.
An example was seen on Wednesday morning, where vehicles were stuck in a massive traffic jam that extended till the Kengeri bus terminal, as almost 70 per cent of the outbound traffic got onto the service road, police said. A similar gridlock was seen on the NICE Road intersection towards Mysuru.
“This is a common sight every long weekend or festive season as people want to avoid the toll. The outgoing traffic piled up before the toll plaza and most of the vehicles turn to the service road, which is narrow compared to the main carriageway. Only this time, this extended till Kengeri,” said an officer from the Kengeri traffic police station.
A Kumbalgodu police officer estimated that 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles passed through the toll plaza on Wednesday morning, more than 70 per cent of which were on the service road.
7 new FOBs by January
Last year the NHAI approved several road safety works at 26 locations to put up pedestrian overbridges at a total cost of Rs 35 crore. “One such overbridge has been constructed in Mandya. Seven more will be completed in a few key locations by the end of January” an official said.