296 accidents, 132 fatalities recorded on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway since January: Official report

To address the growing problem, Kumar sought a detailed report from the superintendents of police in Ramanagara, Mandya, and Mysore districts regarding the accidents and fatalities in the 118-km long expressway. The findings revealed that Ramanagara accounted for 63 fatalities, Mandya recorded 65, while Mysore reported the lowest with only four fatalities between January and June.

The report indicates that the accident-prone zone is concentrated primarily between Channapatna and Mandya stretch. “This stretch is curvilinear and consists of undulations. As a result, high-speeding vehicles are likely prone to accidents. The accidents have also occurred mostly with smaller SUVs. Therefore, it is required to add more advisory signages, blinkers among other precautions to create a psychological impact on drivers,” said Kumar.

Moreover, flouting lane discipline, overspeeding at curves, and skidding due to water logging at bypass junctions like Mandya are contributing factors to road accidents.

To enhance pedestrian safety and curb driving violations, Kumar underscored the necessity of foot over bridges (FOB), automatic number plate recognition (ANPC) cameras, and red light violation (RLVD) cameras.

“As per the contract, 21 FOBs need to be established to ensure pedestrian safety. A lot of movement happens between Kumbalgodu and Bidadi which houses important industries, hospitals, and schools. If need be we are contemplating to propose the installation of CCTVs, ANPC cameras, RLVD cameras to check on violations including two wheeler and tractor menace and impose e-challans,” said Kumar.

Kumar asserted that the police highway patrol would be strengthened to crack down on overspeeding vehicles and other violations. He intends to submit the report on expressway accidents to the government and other stakeholders to prompt further action.

It is noteworthy that Public Works Department minister Satish Jarkiholi directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to conduct a safety audit of the expressway and submit a report due to the escalating number of accidents.

Recent accidents on the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway

On June 21, three individuals, including a government official from Uttar Pradesh, tragically lost their lives in a road accident near Maddur. The incident occurred during rainy conditions when their car struck the divider and collided with another vehicle. Speeding above the limit of 130 km/hr is suspected to be the cause of the accident.

On June 15, a 51-year-old driver from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) died, and 22 others were injured when an electric bus collided with a goods vehicle on the expressway. The collision was triggered by an attempt to overtake the goods vehicle from the left side, leading to a devastating outcome.

On April 24, a devastating car accident claimed the lives of an entire family of five on the expressway. The driver’s speeding and a burst tire caused the vehicle to lose control, leading to a head-on collision with an SUV.

Despite the surge in accidents, the National Highways Authority of India is yet to issue a notification on restricting two-wheelers, tractors, and three-wheelers on the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway.