NHAI Clarifies Misconception About Bangalore-Mysore Road

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has recently addressed a surprising misconception surrounding the Bangalore-Mysore road, which has been erroneously referred to as the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway. The NHAI clarifies that the correct term for this stretch is the Bangalore-Mysore Access Controlled Highway, and it is essential to differentiate between the two. Commuters had raised concerns about the restrictions imposed on two-wheelers and three-wheelers on this road, effective from August 1, as well as the speed limit in place. The confusion arose because many people mistakenly believed this highway to be an expressway, which typically allows speeds of up to 120 km per hour. However, in reality, the Bangalore-Mysore Access Controlled Highway is an ‘access-controlled highway’ with a maximum speed limit of 100 km per hour. Vivek Jaiswal, the NHAI regional officer, clarified that the speed limit for this highway is indeed 100 kmph and not 120 kmph as perceived by some. It is essential to understand the difference between an expressway and an access-controlled highway. Expressways have limited entry and exit points and do not intersect with other roads, enabling a higher maximum speed limit of 120 kmph. On the other hand, access-controlled highways, like the Bangalore-Mysore route, have a speed limit of 100 kmph and allow more unrestricted entry and exit points. The Bangalore-Mysore Access Controlled Highway was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 12, with the intention of improving connectivity and facilitating smoother traffic flow. However, since its inauguration, there have been reports of an increasing number of accidents along the route. To address this issue, the police have been imposing fines on vehicles exceeding the prescribed speed limit of 100 kmph.