Tumkur Rd expressway to be opened by mid-August

Tumkur Rd expressway to be opened by mid-August

NHAI claims toll will be lesser than the existing rates on similar pay-and-use roads

Shwetha S. Bangalore



The Rs775.7-crore elevated expressway and access-controlled corridor on Tumkur Road are likely to be thrown open to vehicular traffic by mid-August, sources in the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said on Monday.
It has been estimated that the expressway would daily benefit more than the estimated 1.2 lakh commuters, heading towards North Karnataka and farther to Pune and Mumbai.
"National Highway - 4 is likely to be inaugurated by August 15," the NHAI source said. The 15km long, six-lane axis control toll road leading to Nelamangala will provide commuters seamless connectivity along a four-lane main carriageway, three-lane service road and four-lane elevated expressway.
Commuters, who use the expressway, would cover reach Nelamangala from the city in 15 minutes, compared to present one hour.
The NHAI said it had tentatively fixed the toll to be levied on motorists for using the elevated expressway. Claiming that the charge would be "cheaper" compared to those in other toll roads in the city, the source said the rates would be between Rs15 and Rs50.
"If you are driving a car along this stretch, you have to pay Rs15 toll for a distance 19.5 km, which narrows down to about 13 paise a kilometre. For a kilometre drive on the elevated expressway along Hosur Road, people are shelling out 33 paise a km. And for the NICE Ring Road, it is Rs2.50 a kilometre," he said.
The NHAI official said the toll has been partially finalised. "Toll rates have been partially confirmed. Four-wheelers, which include cars and jeeps, have to pay Rs15. 'L series' vehicles (SUVs and MUVs) and minibuses will pay Rs25 and buses and trucks will pay Rs50," he said.
The deputy commissioner of police (traffic-west), Panduranga H Rane, said the expressway would segregate the local traffic flow.
"The service roads provided are quite helpful. But until we see the usage of vehicles on the expressway, we cannot analyse the traffic movement. If it becomes like the Hosur Road expressway, then it will be of no use," he said.
Several motorists have been avoiding the Hosur Road expressway. citing high toll rates.