[anandhsub]

Originally Posted by am1m

The debate about whether this is an expressway or not aside, I'm assuming this new road certainly reduces the driving time between Bangalore and Mysore drastically? And does that hold good even during the dreaded Sunday evening return from Mysore-Bangalore and the Saturday/long weekend exodus from Bangalore-Mysore.

(Thanks for any responses from regular users of the Blr-Mys road route.)

Definitely. I started from Mysore ( may be 10 mins from Columbia Asia) at 3 PM, and was at my place in Mahadevpura by 5:45 PM this Sunday.

There are maniacs trying crazy overtakes, and Tata Aces hogging the right lane at 60 kmph, but as long as you are cruising at 100kmph in the middle lane, not wanting to overtake every car in front of you, it is a very pleasant drive. Going above 120 kmph is difficult since given the denser traffic you will have a very start-stop kind of drive.

Takes much longer ( especially when exiting Bangalore on Saturday) to get to the expressway than it takes to get to Mysore from Kengeri.

I find the entries and exits very well marked. The issue is that people dont follow the lanes and try and overtake from the left near these entries and exits by going over the solid white line which leads to a lot of near misses.

Similarly those entering the expressway from the service road need to stick to the left lane for a few 100s of metres more given the solid white line but they quickly get over to the middle lane which causes people cruising in the middle lane to hard brake.

Worse are those who want to visit eateries in the towns, but dont want to exit the expressway and hence they park on the main road and walk into the service road. May be making the service roads 2 way like it is in the Krishnagiri-Vellore section would help here.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by binand

Toll booth staff member beaten to death.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...le66934668.ece

There seems to be due to series of unfortunate events that lead to this -
1. Goods carrier without Fastag got in to Fastag lane and toll attendants collected cash from them.
2. Behind the goods carrier was a car with 4 drunk passengers, who got agitated at the delay in collecting cash from the Goods carrier.
3. Toll operators gang up and beat the car passengers.
4. Car passengers come later, wait for toll operator to finish shift and attack him when he was spending time at a nearby lake.


The solution by police to avoid this, have background verification of toll operators


Link

[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

There seems to be due to series of unfortunate events that lead to this -
1. Goods carrier without Fastag got in to Fastag lane and toll attendants collected cash from them.
2. Behind the goods carrier was a car with 4 drunk passengers, who got agitated at the delay in collecting cash from the Goods carrier.
3. Toll operators gang up and beat the car passengers.
4. Car passengers come later, wait for toll operator to finish shift and attack him when he was spending time at a nearby lake.


The solution by police to avoid this, have background verification of toll operators


Link

The police have a point, that link you shared says the toll plaza employees attacked the car passengers, the alcohol angle just seems to be a distraction. I have no sympathy for the employees, they're absolutely uncouth and inefficient, it takes a minimum of 3 minutes for them to issue a toll ticket when collecting cash, deliberately slowing down waiting cars.

BETL Electronic City is another place where these thugs love to go on a power trip, forcing everyone to reverse out because one tag isn't working.

[barcalad]

Drove for the first time on the expressway on a visit this past weekend.

A major difference that I observed between BME and say Yamuna Expressway or Agra Expressway here in NCR is that BME had a lot of people wanting to overtake from the left. As if it was completely normal. Barely anyone was adhering to the speed limit. Even the folks on the Kawasakis' and Beemers' overtook from the left at mind boggling speeds.

Did decent timings both ways. I wish there were better food outlets or restrooms with appropriate signage. All in all, a mediocre first time experience.

Was surprised by the condition of NICE Road. What used to be my preferred road to unwind or do late night rides when I was in Bangalore has become worse than a SH. Scores of Trucks, Diversions and Uneven/Potholed tarmac galore. They really shouldn't be collecting toll on that one.

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by avira_tk

I have no sympathy for the employees, they're absolutely uncouth and inefficient, it takes a minimum of 3 minutes for them to issue a toll ticket when collecting cash, deliberately slowing down waiting cars.

True that. This toll plaza staffs are no saint. Even this incident looks to be triggered by the behavior of the staff.

There were instances where these toll plaza guys will say that your tag is black listed due to insufficient balance and make you pay in cash. And in the hurry, you tend to not check on your balance and pay it up to avoid a delay. It had happened multiple times with several people I know of. Only later they realize that there is balance in their tag.

[Caramba]

So recently we cruising along one morning just past Mandya and here we have a mobile speed breaker. He actually turned on the highway and proceeded to drive the wrong way down the expressway. Too many video games I think. Ignore the date and timestamp, have not bothered setting it.

[PreludeSH]

Just came back to and fro Bengaluru-Mysuru trip. At 6 am it took 1 hr 15 mins to Mysuru and 1 hr 30 mins back.
I think people find it hard to stick within lanes owing to the always curving nature of the road. You dont expect that in a expressway or highway all through unless you are in the hills. Traffic was not high and didn't see any issue. I overshot Manipal hospital in Mysuru since you cant make out any landmarks. I didnt even see the Kaveri while driving.

[impala]

Public TV reports mind boggling accident stats from Mandya district alone. While the highway is a great help for me who take that route often, I never found it safe. These stats shows how bad the safety is. Now with monsoon around, I fear this is going to get worser.

Using translator, '.. the accident that took place on the highway in Mandya district and the number of people who died due to it is causing concern among the people. From January to the end of May, there were 570 accident cases, 55 people died and 52 people were seriously injured. Another 184 people have broken limbs and 279 people have suffered minor injuries in the accident, ...'

[puntra800]

So I did one more trip on the expressway over the weekend, last one was on March 19th and some of the things I noticed was
There are signages for exits and merging lanes which is a welcome sign but some of the entries are not marked correctly for instance I had to get into Channapatna and then get back on to the expressway, there was a sign saying Bangalore but it lead to a dead end. Eventually I ended up taking the old highway till almost Bidadi. The old highway needs some maintenance, the bushes have overgrown on the median making it all the more riskier.
Most of the broken fences are mended but still there spots here and there where some restaurants just decided that people can park on expressway and visit their eatery.
The exit and entry near NICE road is one of the most hopelessly designed one(I give the first place to the new double decker metro/flyover from Marenhalli to Silk Board), basic design flaw which leads to criss crossing of traffic and hence lead to massive Jams for instance I had to take the NICE road to Tumkur Road and had to literally block the traffic which was not using the expressway to get to NICE road.
Tailgating is such an issue, it is an expressway and I fail to understand why people don't maintain the distance and the lane switch without indicators(Just reinforces the thought we don't deserve expressways until we follow basic traffic rules)
No restrictions on 2 Wheelers and Autos yet, As a 2 wheeler user myself I would also like to use the expressway but for the safety of 2 wheelers it is better to restrict entry. Autos as usual claim it is their Dad's road so cannot comment anything on them.
Wrong side driving, I myself caught 2 Tata 407s vrooming in the opposite direction with their lights on, not sure if they do it for thrill or any other purpose.

I guess I am never going to stop ranting on this expressway however hard I try.

[swarnava.ch]

Dear Forum members and experts,
I have to drive down from Bangalore to Coorg via Mysore Expressway on 22nd morning.
Since I plan to leave a bit early from my home, I need a good breakfast stop option on BLR-MYS expressway. Now there are a lot of exits, poorly marked, where you can see cars suddenly veering to left to stop at the erstwhile Food Joints but just wanted some suggestions from the more regular users so that we can plan our stops better. Please do suggest something around / after Mandya -around mid way. I want to avoid long U Turns and deviations so preferably on the left exit.

[Oppanna]

The entry to service road near Chennapatna while coming from Mysore - where you need to take left to stop at Hotel Shivalli, Indhradhanush, Empire is barricaded now with the mesh like any other places.

Hence, left most lane in front of these hotels are now filled with cars parked! there is a small passage where people gain access to these hotels!

For someone who is kept unaware will be taken for surprise with entire lane blocked with parked cars!

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by swarnava.ch

Dear Forum members and experts,
I have to drive down from Bangalore to Coorg via Mysore Expressway on 22nd morning.
Since I plan to leave a bit early from my home, I need a good breakfast stop option on BLR-MYS expressway. Now there are a lot of exits, poorly marked, where you can see cars suddenly veering to left to stop at the erstwhile Food Joints but just wanted some suggestions from the more regular users so that we can plan our stops better. Please do suggest something around / after Mandya -around mid way. I want to avoid long U Turns and deviations so preferably on the left exit.

Not stopping anywhere is the best use of your toll money paid for the road, drive straight into the city (roads are very good, there will be next to no traffic at all) and have your breakfast in the city, there are so many options and then continue to Coorg.

Depends on which part of Coorg you are visiting, you may want to consider going through Kunigal - Mangalore highway as well.

[Caramba]

Originally Posted by swarnava.ch

Dear Forum members and experts,
I have to drive down from Bangalore to Coorg via Mysore Expressway on 22nd morning.
Since I plan to leave a bit early from my home, I need a good breakfast stop option on BLR-MYS expressway. Now there are a lot of exits, poorly marked, where you can see cars suddenly veering to left to stop at the erstwhile Food Joints but just wanted some suggestions from the more regular users so that we can plan our stops better. Please do suggest something around / after Mandya -around mid way. I want to avoid long U Turns and deviations so preferably on the left exit.

Why don't you stop at Yelwala. Its about half hour max, from the turn off onto the ring road in Mysore. Ashirvaad Grand is a decent place to stop.

[anandhsub]

Originally Posted by swarnava.ch

Dear Forum members and experts,
I have to drive down from Bangalore to Coorg via Mysore Expressway on 22nd morning.
Since I plan to leave a bit early from my home, I need a good breakfast stop option on BLR-MYS expressway. Now there are a lot of exits, poorly marked, where you can see cars suddenly veering to left to stop at the erstwhile Food Joints but just wanted some suggestions from the more regular users so that we can plan our stops better. Please do suggest something around / after Mandya -around mid way. I want to avoid long U Turns and deviations so preferably on the left exit.

Where in BLR are you starting from? If it is close to Kengeri then would recommend to start early and have breakfast post the expressway somewhere on the road to Hunsur.

If starting > 1 hour from the NICE road junction then I would recommend starting later and having breakfast within BLR or at max by Bidadi and join the expressway post the toll.

Doesnt make any sense stopping on the expressway.

Do note that from most parts of BLR, it will take longer to get to the expressway than to go to Srirangapatna from the start of the expressway.

[goandude]

Originally Posted by impala

Using translator, '.. the accident that took place on the highway in Mandya district and the number of people who died due to it is causing concern among the people. From January to the end of May, there were 570 accident cases, 55 people died and 52 people were seriously injured. Another 184 people have broken limbs and 279 people have suffered minor injuries in the accident, ...'

Not enough deaths /injuries to attract the attention of the traffic police /highway police /whoever is responsible for road safety. Unless one of the victims are high ranking political /administration bosses nothing is going to change. Our common lives are disposable.

Is there any organization responsible for highway safety? Don't see any signage indicating this.

In the early days of the Mumbai Pune expressway, there were people in reflective vests forcing slow /heavy vehicles to move to left lane. Not there any more, probably found it futile.

So basically you are at the mercy of the most aggressively driven vehicle whether right lane, left lane, wrong side driving. GHU. God Help Us