Less than a week after inauguration by PM Modi, Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway flooded after rains

Incidentally, last August, the same stretch was flooded following heavy rainfall. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who had visited the road in January this year, had commented on the flooding and said that a technical team was looking into the issue. “We will ensure that it does not repeat. A road safety audit is also being carried out to prevent road accidents on the stretch,” he had said.

NHAI in series of tweets said that it has has taken immediate measures to address water drainage issue on the Bengaluru – Mysuru Expressway. “The region experienced heavier than usual rainfall, resulting in inundation below animal underpass due to blockage of drainage path by the villagers. Villagers of Madapura tried to create a shortcut access to their fields by blocking the drain with soil to make their own pathway, resulting in inundation of road due to the blockage,” it said.

On March 12, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the 118-km Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project. The expressway reduces the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around three hours to about 75 minutes, according to officials.

The Rs 8,480 crore project involves six-laning of the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275. The NHAI had started collecting toll on Tuesday and political parties, including Janata Dal (Secular), had staged protests over tolls being collected without road works being completed.

Meanwhile, several areas in Bengaluru were plunged into darkness for four-five hours on Friday after the city recorded 5.3 mm of rain.

“There were technical glitches in the Muss feeder in Jayadeva, Attur-Yelahanka and Magadi Road due to heavy wind and rainfall. This resulted in electricity disruption in several areas. We worked the entire night to resolve the issue. Transformers were repaired. The situation is normal now,” a Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited official said.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) control room also received complaints of tree branches falling in Indiranagar, Rajajinagar and Muddayyana Palya. HAL also witnessed crawling traffic due to water logging.