A 68-km stretch of the expressway in Karnataka has been opened to the public without toll charges, as construction in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh is still underway.

At present, vehicles are using the route from Hoskote to Bethamangala (KGF). However, due to limited connectivity at the endpoint, many motorists are forced to take narrow village roads to reach their destinations.

To address the issue, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to upgrade local district and village roads and link the expressway to Sundarapalya and Mulbagal areas on NH-75.

According to The Times of India, an NHAI official said, “Right now, motorists are forced to use village roads to continue their journey. By linking the expressway to NH-75, more people will benefit, and toll collection could begin soon."

Currently, around 1,800 to 2,000 vehicles use the stretch each day, with traffic numbers steadily rising.

Despite a ban on two-wheelers, autos, and tractors, many of these vehicles continue to access the expressway. Signboards have been put up, and local police have been asked to intervene.

The expressway passes through Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, and KGF police zones. In KGF, checkpoints have been set up to warn riders, but strict enforcement measures like camera-based fines are yet to begin.

Meanwhile, NHAI has asked the executive engineer of Kolar district to submit a report detailing the upgrades needed to make local roads more motorable and better connected to the expressway.

Image source:thehindu