[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by goandude

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.

True that. Here it is as if the road is abandoned (except for the toll collection) and it is left to the users on how they want to use it. There is no trace of anybody out there to oversee things.

Like any new product launch, there should be some demo, guidance, directions etc on "How to use it". Some kind of policing and briefing for a few months would have helped to reduce the accidents and fatalities. People just do not know how to use it.

[kala]

Originally Posted by swarnava.ch

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.

The restaurant in Hotel Amaravathi at the point where Mandya bypass starts (https://maps.app.goo.gl/8mTZmGXWS1mDH14Q8) is quite decent. There is an exit to the service road about 50m before the restaurant - so not much of an issue getting to the restaurant.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by goandude

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

If you drive in the Palakkad-Thrissur stretch you will see none of the heavy vehicles hogging the right lane. Even the STU buses use the right lane only for overtaking. All because of the surveillance cameras in the stretch. In a way this stretch has certainly showed it is possible to change the way people drive with strong deterrents backed by technology.

[swarnava.ch]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

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.

Thanks Kosfactor. You are actually right about Kunigal Mangalore Highway but let me share some background.
I am on an office trip with colleagues so have to pick up a few friends along the way and also keep up with rest of the colleagues on the route. So starting time is 6 from Whitefield which means I will reach Expressway entry in about 1 hour and then will be hungry by 8:00 am or so.

Originally Posted by Caramba

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.

Thanks Caramba for the suggestion, have marked it now on route as a possible option.

Originally Posted by anandhsub

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.

This is not a bad option anandhsub, Thanks. May be I can keep it as an option for my next private trip. Would you have any suggestions specifically ?

Originally Posted by kala

The restaurant in Hotel Amaravathi at the point where Mandya bypass starts (https://maps.app.goo.gl/8mTZmGXWS1mDH14Q8) is quite decent. There is an exit to the service road about 50m before the restaurant - so not much of an issue getting to the restaurant.

Thanks kala for the suggestion. Marked this option. I have seen it a few times on my trip but now I see it can be a good option along the way.

[itwasntme]

Toll hiked on the BMIC and balance portion will also get tolled shortly:

https://www.deccanherald.com/state/n...2-1227255.html

https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...le66961834.ece

[Oppanna]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Toll hiked on the BMIC and balance portion will also get tolled shortly:

This is going to be painful for sure. This toll would have been justified if there was only one entry and exit.

Now people choose to take service road till Bidadi and enter the expressway and drive without paying the toll! and again will exit the toll booth before srirangapatna, enter after toll with next available entry!

How is the toll paid justified here?

[JithinR]

Sitting in a textile shop bored waiting for my mom to pick out dresses and I started reading this thread again and realised that I had forgotten to post my experience the last time I used it.

All in all I don't think the expressway is worth it. I need to use the NICE road from my place in Bengaluru south to link up with this expressway.

The Saturday I made the trip, there was a massive traffic jam on the Mysore road exit point of NICE (easily took about 20mins+) to clear it. Not to mention that NICE itself is a mess. I would agree with a previous post that they don't deserve the toll amount at this point.

We then had another jam at Mysore Columbia Asia signal which again took 15 mins+. This one though seems to be due to the signal at the junction holding traffic up for an absurd amount of time.

Always wondered on the logic behind that signal timing. Can anyone here provide some context?

But the pièce de résistance for this trip was when other vehicles who had encountered the traffic jam at the Mysore signal decided to then execute a u-turn on the over bridge of the expressway to head back to a previous exit point.

I even saw a Chevy beat decide to do a reverse u turn on the freaking expressway. This threw me off so much that I forgot to pay attention to the slowed down vehicle in front and almost rear ended a Nexon in front of me. Had to swerve into the right most lane like an idiot because I realised I won't be able to stop in time.

I would have provided a video experience of this horror story except I forgot that my dashcam has only a 64GB card which somehow got filled up in that journey. Now I am wondering if taking the Kanakpura route would be a better option on weekends

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

If a way this stretch has certainly showed it is possible to change the way people drive with strong deterrents backed by technology.

From all accounts it looks like the denizens along the Blr-Mys Expressway have been merrily robbing the fencing and barricades and even some of those mobile relay towers. Im sure they will find ways of robbing these cameras too.
The offending general public have got too used to a freebie economy where it appears they can help themselves to anything they want, no questions asked.
Its only we the tax and toll paying middle class idiots who are ultimately paying the price.

[Oppanna]

Had to drive down to Mysore and back yesterday with family. It has become a nightmare to drive either ways with all types of 4 wheelers overtaking from left right and centre!

No lane discipline whatsoever. I am a person who loves to stick to middle lane here and maintain steady 80 kmph. Not once on both the journeys i was able to drive peacefully for more than a km of stretch maintaining the steady speed.

Saw 3 accidents also on the way. I am told accidents here are a daily affair.

Just sad that when will people learn something called safe driving? They are putting themselves at risk and nuisance for other road users as well.

I am feeling like taking Kanakapura road next time onwards for my Mysore trips.

[nareshtrao]

Originally Posted by Oppanna

Saw 3 accidents also on the way. I am told accidents here are a daily affair.

Just sad that when will people learn something called safe driving? They are putting themselves at risk and nuisance for other road users as well.

I am feeling like taking Kanakapura road next time onwards for my Mysore trips.

Just saw in the papers today about another fatal accident on Maddur Overpass involving a two-wheeler.

My recent trips have made me believe this highway has become more of a disaster zone than a boon. Absolutely reckless driving all around and all kinds of vehicles from 2 wheelers to cycles to Autos and other contraptions occupying all lanes. Moreover, overtaking from all sides at breakneck speeds is something which happens throughout the stretch.

I would rather take Kanakpura Road going forward to Mysore.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by nareshtrao

Just saw in the papers today about another fatal accident on Maddur Overpass involving a two-wheeler.

My recent trips have made me believe this highway has become more of a disaster zone than a boon. Absolutely reckless driving all around and all kinds of vehicles.

I would rather take Kanakpura Road going forward to Mysore.

Start a bit early, drive slowly and reach safely

There are chances that Kanakpura road will get developed further since Shivakumar is now in a position to do so however until then, enter the Mysore Tollway and hit cruise control, relax and watch out for idiots on the road as always, you`d reach Mysore in very little time.

[nareshtrao]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Start a bit early, drive slowly and reach safely

There are chances that Kanakpura road will get developed further since Shivakumar is now in a position to do so however until then, enter the Mysore Tollway and hit cruise control, relax and watch out for idiots on the road as always, you`d reach Mysore in very little time.

Agree but even when we do that, the kind of traffic around has become scary. And at times I have been stuck behind a bunch of trucks on middle and centre lanes causing a jam leading to all vehicles overtaking from the extreme left and shoulder. And more often these maniacal overtakers end up banging the ones on cruise in the middle lane for no fault of theirs.

[Oppanna]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Start a bit early, drive slowly and reach safely :

This is something i always do. Start as early as possible, drive sedately and reach safely. However on mysore road even this is not working out. Primarily because of breakneck speed, overtaking from all sides and honestly i get more stressed out when driving on this road than any other for that matter.

Every month i drive/ride to Mangalore and used to be a regular on Hassan route. Since Shiradi stretch is under construction, i used to take Charmadi and reach home. For the last 3 months i took Mysore - Madikeri route for the love of undivided highway from Mysore to B C road.

What i observed is i am less stressed driving on an undivided highway or even Hassan highway. Unless road users decide to drive safe things will not change IMHO.

[Chetan_Rao]

Had two separate instances of oncoming traffic on the wrong side on the weekend. A Baleno on the road shoulder, and an Indica cab on the passing lane!

Both high beams, and going at a fair clip. Was in someone else's car so no dashcam footage.

[am1m]

For those using this new highway and other highways, is this really any more dangerous than what we see on other highways in our country? Idiots going the wrong way, speeding cars swerving between lanes, idiots parking on the road to enjoy a meal or selfies, bikes going slow in the fast lane, cutting across at random, tractors, incorrect banking on curves...all sound pretty much like any highway I've been on. The usual defensive driving/riding tactics and quick prayer should suffice, right? Or is this one really more dangerous in your considered opinion?