Congress alleges hasty inauguration as photos emerge of ‘damaged’ Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway

The Congress attacked the ruling BJP asking why the road was inaugurated if the work was incomplete. “Why should people pay for roads which have problems?” the party tweeted.

Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, “Half baked-Publicity Driven” inauguration of Bengaluru-Mysore Highway by PM Modi-Bommai Govt has unleashed all the issues we raised. Incomplete NH endangering Public Safety, Incomplete Service Roads, Exorbitant Toll on incomplete NH and Failed Scanners-Boom Barriers.”

Pratap Simha, the BJP MP, tweeted that a joint expansion on the flyover was being rectified. “We are addressing the issue,” he added.

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Project director B T Sridhar told The Indian Express that some steel plates, not the road, had been damaged, because of vehicle density. “It is a curve and the vehicle speed is restricted to 65km per hour. As the steel plates were damaged, they were being repaired,” he said.

The collection of tolls on the first stretch of the expressway, from Bengaluru to Nidaghatta in Mandya district (55.63 km), drew the ire of the public as well as activists.

Cars have to pay Rs 135 for a single journey and Rs 205 if they are returning the same day. After the opening of the second stretch, the toll for cars, jeeps, and vans may rise to Rs 250. If the vehicle does not have FASTag, the amount would nearly double.

Locals alleged they were being asked to pay hefty tolls for using less than 20 km of the road.

Sridhar said passes would be issued to the locals who reside within 20km of the expressway. “We will issue passes and local people will also get a discount on the toll. An office has been already established,” he added.

Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, who took the road on Tuesday, said that he had to pay Rs 270 as he was told the FASTag was not working.

The expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12. The toll collection was announced in February but deferred at the last minute in view of public ire.

The 117km road is being built at a cost of Rs 8,408 crore in two packages. Fifty-two kilometres of the expressway is greenfield highway consisting of five bypasses, which will reduce traffic congestion in neighbouring towns.