This is for the updates and discussion on the upcoming Bangalore-Mysore Expressway. While it aligns to the current road in most parts, there are also several key greenfield stretches that completely bypass the towns enroute.
BHPian Rajeevraj recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Before readers wonder on why we need a thread on the Bangalore-Mysore Road, as we already have ongoing discussions in a lot of places, let me clarify that this is for the updates and discussion on the upcoming Bangalore-Mysore Expressway. While it aligns to the current road in most parts, there are also several key greenfield stretches that completely bypass the towns enroute.
Again, there still may be a thought-What is the big deal, we have plenty of expressways now. Folks who regular use this road would know about the notoriety of the stretch. Of course we know it is important because it connects the capital city Bangalore to Mysore, which is the cultural capital and one of the top tourist centers in India. Apart from that Mysore is the gateway to some of the top tourist locations in the country including the Nilgiris belt in Tamilnadu (Ooty, Coonoor), Wayanad in Kerala and Coorg in Karnataka. In addition it is also the gateway to the Bandipur and Mudumalai Wildlife Santuaries. Beyond all of that, it is also the default route for travelling between Karnataka and the Northern Districts of Kerala.
So one can imagine the amount of traffic that the Bangalore Mysore highway takes. Most regulars dread the route especially during weekends and there is always a lot of discussion on alternative routes via Kanakpura and Neelamangala-Pandavapura which have their own problems. The stretch is also made fun off as one long food court or a 140km city drive. It is also famous for the appearance and disappearance of road humps which make it dangerous.
So what is changing now: The Bangalore-Mysore Road was expanded into a 4 lane road and it got completed in around the 2005 timeframe( my vague recollection). It was a state highway and did not significantly bypass the towns enroute (Kengeri, Bidadi, Ramanagara, Channapatna, Maddur, Mandya, Srirangapatna). So even in the immediate years since inception it was seen to be not sufficient to carry the volume of traffic.
In the later years, as part of the Bangalore NICE Road, there was a plan/proposal to have a similar expressway to Mysore. That did not take off (Even today you can see the board on the NICE road that indicates a Mysore Expressway)
Years went by, the stretch was converted into an NH and finally plans were made to expand it into a proper 6 lane access controlled expressway with 2 way service roads on both sides. It is a 117km road that starts just after the NICE road at Kengeri and ends at the Mysore Ring Road at the Columbia Asia Signal. Below news articles have some more info.
While the articles above call out the status and target completion date of October 2022. Since I frequently drive the stretch, thought to capture some images and put in my perspective of the status of the work and progression.
All the below updates are as of 20th February 2022. My estimates on the completion are based on the progress I have seen in trips done in September and November 2021 and February 2022.
Continue reading BHPian Rajeevraj’s Bangalore-Mysore Expressway status & updates for more insights and information.
Keyword: Bangalore-Mysore Expressway status & updates