Traffic chaos near toll plazas ruins smooth Bengaluru–Mysuru highway experience

Vehicles near a toll plaza on the Bengaluru Mysuru  Highway near Bengaluru on April 20 night.
| Photo Credit: Deepika K.C.

What was once hailed as a game-changer for commuters between Bengaluru and Mysuru is now earning brickbats from frustrated motorists. The much-hyped access-controlled Bengaluru–Mysuru highway witnessed massive traffic snarls this long festival weekend, particularly near the toll plazas at Sheshagiri Halli and Kaniminike, leaving thousands of travellers stranded for hours.

The congestion, especially on Sunday evening, turned a normally two-hour journey into an ordeal, as vehicles inched forward in serpentine queues stretching over several kilometres. Despite the modern infrastructure, commuters allege that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) failed to deploy adequate personnel and systems to manage the weekend rush, resulting in widespread chaos.

Complete standstill

Reshma Kushalappa and her husband, who were returning to Bengaluru from Kodagu, found themselves stuck for more than an hour at the Kaniminike toll plaza. “We had just breezed through the highway when we suddenly came to a complete standstill before entering the city. Back in Mumbai, we’ve seen toll operators open gates during long jams to clear traffic. But here, no such measure was taken. What’s the point of a six-lane highway if we are stuck at the very end?” she asked.

The couple, who recently moved to Bengaluru from Mumbai, say they have now come to expect these bottlenecks at the tail end of what is supposed to be a high-speed journey.

It’s not a one-off incident. Commuters report recurring issues every weekend, particularly on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings heading to Mysuru, and Sunday evenings returning to Bengaluru. “Even when I leave early, around 7 a.m. on Saturdays, I still get caught up in traffic at the Kaniminike toll plaza. The Fastag system often fails to read properly, which causes further delays,” said Murlidhar M., a Kengeri resident who frequently travels to Mysuru.

Better toll plaza management

Many are calling for immediate action from NHAI, including more efficient toll plaza management, better FASTag sensors, and contingency measures like opening gates during peak congestion to prevent further disruption. Another commuter, Supreeth G. from Hulimavu, said, “Whatever time we save on the expressway is wasted at the tolls. These jams have been happening regularly ever since the highway was inaugurated. It’s disappointing.”

Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) were unavailable for comment despite multiple attempts to reach them.

Kumbalgodu flyover

Adding to the woes, commuters also face traffic jams on and after the Kumbalgod elevated corridor. With over 70,000 vehicles using the highway on weekends, the final stretch into Bengaluru becomes very difficult.

“All the time we save on the highway is lost in the last kilometre, from the Panchamukhi Ganesha Temple to the NICE Road junction. It’s a painful, exhausting experience,” said Mahesh Kumar, a Nagarbhavi resident who frequently drives on the route.

He added, “On weekends, entering and exiting the Kumbalgodu flyover is nearly impossible. It’s disheartening to see that time saved on the highway is simply vanishing because of poor planning.”