Bangalore Elevated Tollway

sbraj · 8th June 2010, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

It takes only 5 minutes to travel 9 kms, but one has to wait for another 10-15 minutes at the toll gates during peak hours. It really defeats the whole purpose.

Does it really make sense to use BETL during off peak hours? Last weekend, I took BETL at 4AM and 10PM as I was not sure how the traffic will be on the road below.

coolclouds · 9th June 2010, 10:39

Considering the delay at toll both, I feel, its better to take the road below off peak hours.
Also I noted that very few vehicles take the elevated road in the late night/early morning

aargee · 9th June 2010, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

Again, 2-wheelers don't have to pay any toll if they enter/exit at Attibele toll booth, whereas 2-wheelers have to pay toll if they enter/exit at Electronics City toll booth. Talk about double standards.

I don't see a problem Rohan; Attibele is part of highway (long distance) & IIRC, none of the highway toll booth charges two-wheelers. While the elevated express highway should be state initiative & for the short distance & huge investment they've to recover the money faster & hence collect money from every possible vehicle. What's your opinion?

rohan_iitr · 9th June 2010, 11:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by aargee

I don't see a problem Rohan; Attibele is part of highway (long distance) & IIRC, none of the highway toll booth charges two-wheelers. While the elevated express highway should be state initiative & for the short distance & huge investment they've to recover the money faster & hence collect money from every possible vehicle. What's your opinion?

Well my personal opinion is that 2-wheelers should not be allowed on the elevated expressway for their own safety, since the expressway is very narrow and there is no dedicated lane for them. Driving a 2-wheeler on the elevated expressway is very risky, especially in peak traffic.

The elevated expressway is a public-private-partnership initiative. So the normal highway rules don't strictly apply here.

A 2-wheeler is benefiting from using the expressway, whether he exits at Attibele or Electronics city. Hence I feel that the fair thing would be to collect the same toll at both the toll booths.

If someone highway user doesn't want to pay the toll, he can always use the toll free road below.

Rohan

asethi · 9th June 2010, 17:13

Well I have been travelling on this tollway now for more than a month regularly, as I've to drop and pick my wife from EC. Initially it was pain to wait in the cash queue, so now I switched to monthly pass. Now what a breeze it is to drive there, and no waiting at all, 2-3 toll gates are always empty for pass holders.

But it's completely illogical on their behalf to leave 2 gates for monthly pass users and just 1 for the cash users. Should be otherwise though, only 1 gate enough for pass users and rest for cash.

rohan_iitr · 18th June 2010, 16:34

Infosys buses on the Elevated Expressway are a real nuisance. They always travel in big convoys, which makes it very difficult to overtake them.

Sometimes they overtake each other, hogging up both lanes in the process.

Sometimes they change lanes dangerously without any indication.

Any idea, to whom should we complain regarding these recklessly driven Infosys buses on the Elevated Expressway ?

Rohan

asethi · 18th June 2010, 20:27

Moreover they are BMTC buses on Infosys duty, so even police won't touch them!

IronH4WK · 19th June 2010, 08:24

a week or so back when i was returning from EC, i saw four United Travels buses racing each other on the BETL. they were occupying both lanes and i almost got run over by one trying to overtake the other!

not sure these were running for Wipro or Infosys!

KRRaj · 20th June 2010, 21:30

United Travels run for Wipro. Worst drivers. Infy buses are either the blue/white ones or BMTC buses. They are actually far better than most buses.

babaops · 21st June 2010, 09:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRRaj

United Travels run for Wipro. Worst drivers. Infy buses are either the blue/white ones or BMTC buses. They are actually far better than most buses.

Even I have seen Wipro Buses run badly and Wipro Transport does'nt seem to care for it. I got a mail some time back where one Infy person's vehicle was hit by a Wipro bus. On contacting the Wipro officials for this he was told that Wipro cannot help in this matter and the person needs to fight it out with the transporter. Would have really liked it if Wipro would have taken up the matter with the transporter, thats the least I expect from the big so called, responsible organizations.

asdon · 21st June 2010, 09:40

I really doubt the use of the toll road even in pick hours if you are comming to Electronic City, I have tried using the service road to cross Bomanhalli signal and then found that the original Hosur rd is not that bad to use, I reached my office in phase-1 in 15 mins, from Bomanhalli. Sometimes I use the connecting road from HSR layout to Bomanhalli to avoid silkboard which also serves the purpose.

ch.nathan · 21st June 2010, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbraj

Does it really make sense to use BETL during off peak hours?

IMO, it's equally important (if not more) to use the BETL in off-peak hours, considering the chances of pedestrians, autos, two-wheelers crossing the road suddenly from the junctions like Kudlu gate, Hosa road, etc.
During off-peak hours they won't be very watchful and it may be risky to drive.
During peak hours there will be more traffic and everyone will be watchful.

ch.nathan · 1st July 2010, 15:16

The tollway should have been little wider - atleast 2-3 feet on either side for two-wheelers. Now half of the left lane is occupied by two-wheelers.
It's almost impossible for four-wheelers to stick to a single lane - in peak hours.

csentil · 13th July 2010, 18:52

Heard that they have increased the toll by Rs.5/-. Is that so?

The other day I had to go up till Manipal County and so I had to take the road below. This was at 9.30 PM. There was a big traffic jam near Bommanhalli. Almost 95% of all vehicles didn't take the elevated highway. On enquiring I found found that they had increased the toll by Rs.5/-.

Bommanhalli junction is still a big mess. :(

paragsachania · 13th July 2010, 19:01

^^ Yes, it is now 50 INR for a daily pass and also:
The daily pass is now valid for the same calendar day on which it was issued and can be used till 23-59 Hrs only.
So all those tricks of using the multiple trip pass for 3 journeys smartly wont work now

.

Somehow I feel that the BETL authorities have been trying all tricks to ensure that the motorists are forced to apply for OBUs!!!

9th June 2010, 10:39	#392
coolclouds Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Garden City Posts: 1,799 Thanked: 519 Times	Considering the delay at toll both, I feel, its better to take the road below off peak hours. Also I noted that very few vehicles take the elevated road in the late night/early morning
	() Thanks

9th June 2010, 17:13	#395
asethi BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 464 Thanked: 348 Times View My Garage	Well I have been travelling on this tollway now for more than a month regularly, as I've to drop and pick my wife from EC. Initially it was pain to wait in the cash queue, so now I switched to monthly pass. Now what a breeze it is to drive there, and no waiting at all, 2-3 toll gates are always empty for pass holders. But it's completely illogical on their behalf to leave 2 gates for monthly pass users and just 1 for the cash users. Should be otherwise though, only 1 gate enough for pass users and rest for cash.
	() Thanks

18th June 2010, 16:34	#396
rohan_iitr Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,142 Thanked: 842 Times	Infosys buses on the Elevated Expressway are a real nuisance. They always travel in big convoys, which makes it very difficult to overtake them. Sometimes they overtake each other, hogging up both lanes in the process. Sometimes they change lanes dangerously without any indication. Any idea, to whom should we complain regarding these recklessly driven Infosys buses on the Elevated Expressway ? Rohan
	() Thanks

18th June 2010, 20:27	#397
asethi BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 464 Thanked: 348 Times View My Garage	Moreover they are BMTC buses on Infosys duty, so even police won't touch them!
	() Thanks

19th June 2010, 08:24	#398
IronH4WK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,468 Thanked: 4,150 Times	a week or so back when i was returning from EC, i saw four United Travels buses racing each other on the BETL. they were occupying both lanes and i almost got run over by one trying to overtake the other! not sure these were running for Wipro or Infosys!
	() Thanks

20th June 2010, 21:30	#399
KRRaj BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 514 Thanked: 35 Times View My Garage	United Travels run for Wipro. Worst drivers. Infy buses are either the blue/white ones or BMTC buses. They are actually far better than most buses.
	() Thanks

21st June 2010, 09:40	#401
asdon BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 950 Thanked: 296 Times View My Garage	I really doubt the use of the toll road even in pick hours if you are comming to Electronic City, I have tried using the service road to cross Bomanhalli signal and then found that the original Hosur rd is not that bad to use, I reached my office in phase-1 in 15 mins, from Bomanhalli. Sometimes I use the connecting road from HSR layout to Bomanhalli to avoid silkboard which also serves the purpose.
	() Thanks

1st July 2010, 15:16	#403
ch.nathan BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 516 Thanked: 70 Times	The tollway should have been little wider - atleast 2-3 feet on either side for two-wheelers. Now half of the left lane is occupied by two-wheelers. It's almost impossible for four-wheelers to stick to a single lane - in peak hours.
	() Thanks

13th July 2010, 18:52	#404
csentil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,350 Thanked: 39 Times View My Garage	Heard that they have increased the toll by Rs.5/-. Is that so? The other day I had to go up till Manipal County and so I had to take the road below. This was at 9.30 PM. There was a big traffic jam near Bommanhalli. Almost 95% of all vehicles didn't take the elevated highway. On enquiring I found found that they had increased the toll by Rs.5/-. Bommanhalli junction is still a big mess. :(
	() Thanks

13th July 2010, 19:01	#405
paragsachania Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Belur/Bangalore Posts: 7,148 Thanked: 27,189 Times	^^ Yes, it is now 50 INR for a daily pass and also: The daily pass is now valid for the same calendar day on which it was issued and can be used till 23-59 Hrs only. So all those tricks of using the multiple trip pass for 3 journeys smartly wont work now. Somehow I feel that the BETL authorities have been trying all tricks to ensure that the motorists are forced to apply for OBUs!!!
	() Thanks