ROLLER-COASTER RIDE

ROLLER-COASTER RIDE
19.5-km Expressway On Tumkur Road Gets Finishing Touches, Promises Smooth Run On NH-4
TIMES NEWS NETWORK


The much-awaited stretch of Tumkur Road on NH-4 will be open to commuters finally. The Rs 720-crore elevated expressway and access-controlled corridor are likely to be thrown open to vehicular traffic by August-end.
The stretch of 19.5 km, combining the newly constructed expressway and access-controlled road, will benefit an estimated 1.2 lakh commuters heading towards north Karnataka and further to Pune and Mumbai and other parts of North India every day.
The 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 fourlane elevated expressway. The stretch, which was a nightmare to traverse, is expected to turn into a swift commute, NHAI officials said. Commuters can hope to reach Nelamangala from Bangalore in 15 minutes, compared to one hour at present.
The toll rates will be notified soon. “A gazette notification on this will be announced from New Delhi,’’ said an official. Would twowheelers be prohibited on the stretch? That has not been decided as yet. “We will decide in consultation with the police,’’ he added. YESHWANTPUR — NELAMANGALA Project cost: 720 crore | Started: November 2007