Bengaluru: A considerable number of heavy trucks and commercial vehicles are using service roads along the Bengaluru-Mysuru Access Controlled Expressway to evade tolls, endangering safety of people riding two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, and other vehicles, say NHAI officials.
In response, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has now restricted heavy vehicle access to the service road at Toobinakere and Bidadi (Bengaluru to Mysuru side). It also claims that villagers near Toobinakere staged a protest, demanding restrictions on heavy vehicles using the service road.
According to NHAI, since the 119 km highway became fully operational, 30-40% of motorists opt to use the main carriageway by paying tolls, while the rest stick to the service roads.
An official said, “There are instances of 10-wheel heavy trucks using seven-metre service road and being involved in accidents. When heavy trucks ply on service road, they pose a risk to two-wheeler riders, pedestrians, and others. As per the notification issued, two-wheelers and autorickshaws are banned from entering the mainlines. We have taken road safety measures after consulting local police.”
To curb the practice of motorists avoiding paying the toll fee after using the mainlines of the highway, NHAI has planned to install more toll booths at 28 entry and exit points of the highway.
The official said that the land acquisition process has been initiated to widen the service roads wherever these new toll booths have been planned. “The access-controlled highway is designed for vehicles to drive at a speed of 100 kmph. When speedy vehicles have to exit near the toll booths, there needs to be construction of deceleration lanes for a stretch of 200 metres. To facilitate vehicles entering the main lanes, acceleration lanes are required at the entry points. These entry and exit points will come up on the highway stretch where bypasses have been built,” he added.
New projects at cost of Rs 711 crore
Apart from this, NHAI is also taking up various projects on the operational highway with an estimated cost of Rs 711 crore. The projects include construction of a flyover at Columbia Asia Junction (exit points towards Mysuru), railway over bridges at Bidadi, Channapatna, and Induvalu. An overpass is also proposed at Gowdahalli. Other projects include the construction of bus shelters, bays for trucks, building service roads, and others.
The official said that these projects would come up in the next two years.