Representative image showing and accident
Credit: iStock Photo
The recent accident on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, in which three lives were lost, is a sombre reminder of the dangers lurking on what was supposed to be a state-of-the-art ‘expressway’. With about 200 lives lost so far, the highway raises serious concerns not just about road safety, but also about how we plan, design, and maintain our infrastructure. While speeding is indeed a contributing factor, the problem is compounded by subpar driving skills and poor vehicle maintenance. The 118 km highway, built at a cost of Rs 8,500 crore, was touted as an ‘expressway’. Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had even promised that the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru would be reduced from three hours to just 75 minutes. There were also claims that the ‘expressway’ would feature 10 lanes, but it turned out this number included service roads, with the main carriageway consisting of just three lanes on either side. Following a surge in accidents, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had to clarify that the road was not an expressway but an access-controlled national highway, designed for a maximum speed of 100 km per hour.
However, the tragic accidents reflect a deeper issue in addition to the existing flaws—the road was designed without taking into consideration future demands, population growth and increasing traffic volumes. This oversight becomes glaringly apparent during holidays when the highway becomes severely congested, creating dangerous driving conditions. The question that arises is: how can we justify spending Rs 8,500 crore on a highway that fails to account for the future? While reducing speed limits has led to a decline in accidents, it offers a short-term solution, addressing only a part of the problem. The fact that we are still debating the scientific design of roads, despite such massive investments, highlights a fundamental flaw in the planning and execution process.
In fact, former Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambarish had already raised concerns about the “unscientific” design of the highway with Nitin Gadkari, while the state government had set up a technical committee to identify and address its problems. The government must act on the committee’s recommendations and make corrections that go beyond quick fixes. Rather than viewing accidents as inevitable, the government must prioritise building infrastructure that puts the safety of road users first. The recent accident underscores the need for a comprehensive review of the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway. Moving forward, the government should draw lessons from past experiences to ensure that future projects focus on safety, sustainability and innovation, and ultimately reduce the tragic loss of lives on our highways.