[Fillmore]

Lots of rants about lack of restrooms, rest spots, unfair toll collection etc..

Expressway Loopholes

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by FURY_44

Well, I said so.

It rained yesterday, let's see how it goes till July.

As expected, a press statement,
https://starofmysore.com/not-substan...fies-on-photo/

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

Lots of rants about lack of restrooms, rest spots, unfair toll collection etc..

Users seek infrastructure on Mysuru-Bengaluru expressway for ‘self-explaining road’

NHAI starts collecting toll to use Express Highway in Bengaluru-Nidaghatta section
When the Express Highway is built with taxpayers' money, why should they collect the toll again?" questioned Krishna, a goods van driver. - The ignorance on the toll collection v/s state road tax is evident. And also add this to the sense of entitlement, that every thing should be given for free.

Protesters threaten to destroy Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway toll plaza, detained
Vehicles take 'incomplete' service road to bypass toll on Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway
Although several eateries were set up along the stretch of road after the toll, most of them were shut and devoid of any activity.
...
A resident of the area complained that nearly 60 per cent of the hotels along the expressway were forced to shut following anticipated losses once construction began on the expressway.
...
Locals who wanted to get to the other side after alighting from a bus had to walk further to get to an underpass for vehicles, for there are no skywalks or underpasses for pedestrians, which poses a problem to residents of nearby towns.
...
“This should have been a more carefully thought out plan because not only are people being made to pay toll for something built out of taxpayers’ money, businesses are incurring losses too,” he said.

The above are news reports about the Bangalore-Mysore Express highway from a single English news paper. Two things which stands out; the reports are from a single news paper Deccan Herald, and the next one is the negativity which is seen in each of the reports. This is basically cheap politics at play, and this news paper is also pretty much the mouthpiece of one political party. During 1950s upto 1980s common Indian citizens were not averse to freeloading culture. Government was considered to be the Mai-Baap and every thing was to be provided for free, while citizens were not very much bothered about paying taxes (and other civic duties). It is only in 1990s and 2000s that the mind set slowly started changing. Now most of the Indians are not averse to paying money to get better service.

I remember reading about a Times of India report. It complained that in a North Eastern state school children had to take a risky boat trip to school as there was no bridge for them. Indian Government was questioned for talking big but not providing neccessary infra. A year or so, a bridge was built in this area. Times of India then made a report saying that the livelihood of the poor boatmen is now destroyed as the bridge was now operational. Ultimately; Times of India had an agenda - which is obvious - and they just misreport the news to fit that agenda.

[deehunk]

The self-explaining highway, what if any untoward incident had happened?
https://starofmysore.com/not-substan...fies-on-photo/

[deehunk]

Karnataka HC seeks a response from NHAI, how come Dilip Buildcon is getting all the prestigious expressway projects across the nation?

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cit...y-2556407.html

[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

Users seek infrastructure on Mysuru-Bengaluru expressway for ‘self-explaining road’

NHAI starts collecting toll to use Express Highway in Bengaluru-Nidaghatta section
When the Express Highway is built with taxpayers' money, why should they collect the toll again?" questioned Krishna, a goods van driver. - The ignorance on the toll collection v/s state road tax is evident. And also add this to the sense of entitlement, that every thing should be given for free.

The above are news reports about the Bangalore-Mysore Express highway from a single English news paper. Two things which stands out; the reports are from a single news paper Deccan Herald, ..

I remember reading about a Times of India report....agenda.

A goods van driver has more sense than most people who think a toll road is some sort of gift from the benevolent ruler, he's asking where his taxes are going. The middle class get milked specifically because of their eagerness to diss freebies, the driver is asking why the road taxes, fuel cess and assorted other burdens aren't translating into anything better. The state vs centre argument doesn't hold, the road is built within the state and all the propaganda before the inauguration specifically mentioned this very fact. In fact, we have been subject to a blitz of advertising saying that our taxes are going to build a new country, assuming infra is part of it, do we get at least usable roads at a reasonable cost?

This basically half baked project has generated enough funds for the next election cycle, which is why it was hurriedly inaugurated. The toll collection requires to complete the actual work, including service roads and signage at least, the only thing that is complete is building toll booths. The toll will be increased like the BETL, every year for the next twenty years, namesake maintenance, like NICE road and expect the employee count to equal the traffic within a few years.

There is no remit that the media can't publish stories that hurt your feelings, if you don't want to read it, just turn the page. DH at least did some actual journalism asking people living near the road if they are benefitted from it, the rest of the media were busy taking government ads and pushing the "international standards" puff pieces.

[sachinpk]

Okay, my final comment on this one (as I got banned on the Roads to Kerala thread for pretty much the same thing - i.e politics).

Originally Posted by avira_tk

A goods van driver has more sense than most people who think a toll road is some sort of gift from the benevolent ruler, he's asking where his taxes are going.

There can be a counter question? Was he paying any direct tax in the first place? . Indirect taxes we all pay equally.

The middle class get milked specifically because of their eagerness to diss freebies, the driver is asking why the road taxes, fuel cess and assorted other burdens aren't translating into anything better.

The state road taxes goes to maintaining the roads coming under the state government. Fuel cess is also at a state level. If you are lover of freebies, then I have nothing more to add on. Except that no society has improved on a freebie system.

In fact, we have been subject to a blitz of advertising saying that our taxes are going to build a new country, assuming infra is part of it, do we get at least usable roads at a reasonable cost?

What is a reasonable cost? In neighbouring Kerala, Rs 95 is the toll to travel between Erankulam & Thrissur, a distance of 76 kms and Google Maps says it takes 2 hours to make this journey. In Bangalore-Mysore Express way the toll is Rs 135 for a distance of 119kms and which can be covered in 1 hr 15 mins. For people who 'time is money' the toll is absolutely justifiable. For others who have enough and more free time the old highway can be used. In fact I regularly suggest my Kerala friends who hate paying tolls to use Hosur-Rayakottai-Palacode-Mettur-Sathyamangalam route to avoid paying tolls. But they don't listen and use the tolled highway, and pay the tolls.

The toll collection requires to complete the actual work, including service roads and signage at least, the only thing that is complete is building toll booths.

No. As per the current rules in place the road builder can start collecting tolls once 75% of the total project is completed . And as with my own driving experience as recent as last week, I can say more than 75% work is completed.

The toll will be increased like the BETL, every year for the next twenty years, namesake maintenance, like NICE road and expect the employee count to equal the traffic within a few years.

Is this a wild guess, or you have more information for the same?

There is no remit that the media can't publish stories that hurt your feelings, if you don't want to read it, just turn the page.

Not an issue at all. Just like people who don't want to pay toll and want every thing to be paid at other's cost to use non-tolled roads.

DH at least did some actual journalism asking people living near the road if they are benefitted from it

If people are expecting freebies, and shop keepers wants the old way to be retained so that they can get customers; I don't think their hope would get materialised soon. There could be toll concessions for people who live in areas close to the express way and who would be using it regularly.

As I see it; the old license-permit-raj and socialist model of benevolent dictator providing every thing from easy jobs and fat pensions to people may NOT be able to make a come back now.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

What is a reasonable cost? In neighbouring Kerala, Rs 95 is the toll to travel between Erankulam & Thrissur, a distance of 76 kms and Google Maps says it takes 2 hours to make this journey. In Bangalore-Mysore Express way the toll is Rs 135 for a distance of 119kms and which can be covered in 1 hr 15 mins. For people who 'time is money' the toll is absolutely justifiable.

Please note, this toll of 135 is ONLY for the Bangalore-Nidlghatta reach 1, 56.2 kms stretch.
Reach 2 (Nidlghatta to Mysore, ~61kms) may also be tolled at the same rate, so total toll may come to around 270 for a distance of ~118kms.

[deehunk]

This expressway cannot be a permanent solution for Keralites. Due to geological and environmental reasons even a conventional 4 lane highway is luxury for Keralites. We need something more than these short term solutions to Kerala.

[binand]

Originally Posted by sandsun7

Please note, this toll of 135 is ONLY for the Bangalore-Nidlghatta reach 1, 56.2 kms stretch.
Reach 2 (Nidlghatta to Mysore, ~61kms) may also be tolled at the same rate, so total toll may come to around 270 for a distance of ~118kms.

Rs. 270 for 120 km (Rs. 2.25/km) for a 75-minute driving time sounds quite reasonable to me.

Even the aggregate numbers - Rs. 2000 Cr/toll booth/year for a 10-year concession - sound reasonable when taken along with the Rs. 8500 Crore cost of building the expressway.

[masterChief007]

Flooding in expressway again, during rainy days we may have more such issues. I wonder if they will be able to fix this before the monsoon hits hard.

https://www.news18.com/india/bengalu...e-7323481.html

[commonman]

As a person who travels in between Bengaluru - Mysuru , often in a self driven car, by the end of 2019, I had started cursing the roads. All those cities, the cafeterias, restaurants, shops had made travel very difficult. Add to that, tractors, bullock carts, mopeds, scooters and animals. To me Express way is a blessing. Those who do not want to pay the toll, please use the service road. Those who want to shop, or to take a break can please take the next deviation. It is ridiculous that people is fighting against good roads. There exists no excuse . Many of these are politically motivated. However, I would suggest people to be constructive. Another aspect is in Bangalore, people are happy to pay NICE road toll.. Isn't it all a hilarious scenario.?

[PreludeSH]

Expansion joins on flyovers in Bengaluru are also really bad. Sometimes they are like humps while sometimes they are pits.

There is something wrong technically with the contractors that build our roads. Why are we in such hurry ?

[DigitalOne]

Originally Posted by deehunk

Karnataka HC seeks a response from NHAI, how come Dilip Buildcon is getting all the prestigious expressway projects across the nation?

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cit...y-2556407.html

Sorry, where? Did you read the news report you are quoting? Where is Dilip Buildcon mentioned?

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by DigitalOne

Sorry, where? Did you read the news report you are quoting? Where is Dilip Buildcon mentioned?

They are the builders of this highway, source not related to news report. The reference to the report was for HC asking explaination from NHAI about the status of expressway.