[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

This is really bad. I bemoan this, especially since we all pay our taxes and then buy cars from the tax-paid money, paying more taxes and GST and Road Tax and all that when we buy such cars. Then we pay healthy amounts of tolls to use these roads which are supposedly anyway built using the taxes we pay.

And then we are let down like this; literally with a sickening thud. And we have to pay for repairs. And GST on top of that.

I despair whether we will ever be able to see honest improvement in our country in this lifetime.

When they initially design toll plazas, they do not have speed bumps - later after they repair and replace several of their automatic boom barriers, good sense will prevail and speed bumps 2-3 of them will be added to each booth

Bigger the speed bump slower they go through it, speed bumps as per specifications are useless to deal with vehicles having decent ground clearance.

I see so many people in IT parks try to tailgate into parking lots with their vehicles, don't you think great many would do just about anything to avoid paying nearly 400 Rs toll.

[megazoid]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

I despair whether we will ever be able to see honest improvement in our country in this lifetime.

btw, I have damaged the rim from that hit. Need to see if I can posssibly
live with it.

[sanspatil]

We are planning to drive to Kerala this weekend via Mysore. I will be taking the new expressway for the first time. Since we are taking our pet dog along, does anyone know any eateries on the highway (for breakfast onward, and lunch return) which allow pets? Or at least have outside dining area?

[HTC]

Originally Posted by commonman

Expressway was conceptualized so that the users can travel at good speed and reach the destination faster. How many of you remember 33 humps between Bangalore and Mysuru?
Total travel time was anywhere from 3 hours and up.
This is sad state of our system.

Let's spare a thought for two wheelers aswell. I counted the number of humps while riding from Mysore to Bangalore on service road. From Columbasia hospital till Kumbalgodu, I could count 80 humps. Majoriry of them are unscientific. It's a torture fest riding two wheelers now on this route.

[goandude]

Just drove Mysore to Bangalore. The traffic on my side was sparce but the traffic in opposite direction was very heavy. Toll plaza line was about 700 meters long.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by goandude

Just drove Mysore to Bangalore. The traffic on my side was sparce but the traffic in opposite direction was very heavy. Toll plaza line was about 700 meters long.

Long weekends and holidays = Longer Queues.
It may be better to stay put in the city rather than to attempt road or rail or air travel at this time.

[Rajeevraj]

Drove to Kerala via the expressway on Sunday. While not as bad as what was reported on Saturday, traffic was still very heavy. There was a 10-15 min jam to exit NICE road and then a 10-15 min crawl somewhere on the Ramanagara bypass. In spite of this, the drive took 1.5 hrs and traffic was mostly disciplined.

On the old highway, this kind of traffic would have meant minimum 3+ hours. So although the expressway has its issues, I still maintain how much of a boon it is for the travellers on this stretch.

[sanspatil]

Originally Posted by sanspatil

We are planning to drive to Kerala this weekend via Mysore. I will be taking the new expressway for the first time. Since we are taking our pet dog along, does anyone know any eateries on the highway (for breakfast onward, and lunch return) which allow pets? Or at least have outside dining area?

Forget pet friendly, we couldn't get chairs for humans
We drove on Saturday, and it was madness at all breakfast stops. Lost 1 hour just for a plate of Idly and Vada. Major bottleneck at the first toll. Otherwise, the highway was alright, with people behaving generally OK. However, with the road work happening on the Kerala highway, it took us a total of 10 hours from Bangalore to near Kannur. This usually used to take me 7 or 8 hours.

We will be driving back from Kerala on the coming Saturday. Keeping fingers crossed about traffic.

[Rajeevraj]

I don't know why people do so, but I would strongly advice people to not try to stop for food on the expressway. It is an unnecessary waste of time for sub par food. I understand during earlier times when the journey was unpredictable and there were good options right on the highway. If you need food and are starting early, enter Mysore and have food there. If starting late, have at home or somewhere in the city before entering the expressway. Or carry something to have on the go.

Having said that, I am probably biased as I don't eat much when traveling. Some light munches and water is all I need and my family is also like that. . So my stops are governed by decent rest rooms. So I find it hard to comprehend people crowding all kinds of eateries.

[puntra800]

I guess I was lucky to get leaves the week before Christmas , travelled to Mysore and Hanrangi elephant camp, returned Friday afternoon. Noticed the traffic pick up on the opposite side(As compared to the Wednesday I travelled) it was fun driving, it was the first time I drove after they imposed speed limit and had cameras(I noticed only 1) with no one zig zagging arounf me nor tailgating. I set the cruise control at 96 and left it, I hardly had to set the cruise control again.

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

I don't know why people do so, but I would strongly advice people to not try to stop for food on the expressway. It is an unnecessary waste of time for sub par food.

For me at least, a drive is complete only if I take a pitstop on the highway for a quick tea and snacks and then get back on the h'way.

And that usually is Shivalli or those road side tea shops at one of those exit/entry points. And there isn't any great option even if you wait and reach Mysore? Or is there one, pls suggest if so. Off late, I found Swad (Hotel Atrium) as a good option to grab a quick break at the end of h'way run and then continue rest of the trip.

[ACe_10]

Originally Posted by sanspatil

We are planning to drive to Kerala this weekend via Mysore. I will be taking the new expressway for the first time. Since we are taking our pet dog along, does anyone know any eateries on the highway (for breakfast onward, and lunch return) which allow pets? Or at least have outside dining area?

Poojari Fish Land is a pet friendly place. Also, one of the better places to eat on the Mysore highway.

The other option is Shivalli. It’s not pet friendly per se, but lot of open spaces outside to have your meal.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

For me at least, a drive is complete only if I take a pitstop on the highway for a quick tea and snacks and then get back on the h'way.

And that usually is Shivalli or those road side tea shops at one of those exit/entry points. And there isn't any great option even if you wait and reach Mysore? Or is there one, pls suggest if so. Off late, I found Swad (Hotel Atrium) as a good option to grab a quick break at the end of h'way run and then continue rest of the trip.

The inside Mysore was more of a general statement as Mysore used to have good places as far as I recall. I personally have not gone inside Mysore for food stops for a long time. Swad at Atrium is a decent place with clean rest rooms, I stop here sometimes. If headed towards Gundlepet, there is a decent place close to Nanjagud. Forgot the name though.

I do understand that need for a quick tea break though. I just personally don't prefer it during the quick expressway drive.

[impala]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

there is a decent place close to Nanjagud. Forgot the name though.

Likely, you are referring to Ashirvad Grand. OKish restrooms and OKish food. This is my regular pit stop while driving west and the best option I have found till now. There is a Seed Cafe if you are driving in the opposite direction. I would say that place is overrated and serves very spicy food. It would be my second option around there.

[Sunil@KA25]

I was driving down to Bangalore on the Mysore road yesterday afternoon, where I happened to join the "expressway / Highway" after the Byadarahalli Rly station from the Mandya-KRS main road, I encountered only one toll booth, the one that is just before Bangalore.

Like mentioned in the various posts about the 100-80-60 speed limits, I did see that, there were a lot many vehicles which were easily going above 120-140 KMPH.

While I was not looking forward to be the challan books of the speed cops, I was making a very tiring effort, trying to maintain around 90-95 kmph on the rightmost lane (I drive a Ford Aspire TDCI - with no cruise control) But I felt, keeping that speed was quite risky / dangerous for "me", for - I have to keep checking the speedometer and some how - that continuous constant speed on the plain straight road with the constant hum from the car was making me feel sleepy!! I wonder how do Cruise control users manage to stay alert / engaged while driving?!!

If time is not a constraint, I would rather use the Nelamangala - Kunigal route which despite slightly longer (by about approx - 50KM?), is more scenic, has good eateries, the road curves and the occasional rumblers on the road and you can floor the pedal on clear stretches of road, all of which keeps the driver engaged.