[shamanth]

Originally Posted by gkveda

Cannot be true logically. Reason being, there is a standard rate fixed by NHAI for a particular distance on toll road.

Example: Nelamangala Toll to Tumkur toll covers a distance of 35 kms appx, and toll fee is 35 Rs. This is standard across Karnataka

However, to cover same distance, NICE ROAD toll fare is more than 100.

If NICE road has to come under NHAI Rates, it will be huge loss for Nice authorities

No Toll can be configured, They have already installed Fastag sensors, and waiting for govt to clear the usage of Fastag in NICE Road, as per my previous post as per TOI (Query: NICE Road - Bangalore). Only thing they might not make Fastag mandatory. Fastag system is flexible, since they want to use Fastag for parking in malls, etc. In Hyderabad they use different charges than NHIA for their ORR toll, which has the same entry exit like NICE road, but they have got Fastag installed long back, money wont go to NHAI.

[shamanth]

Looks like Ashok Khenny responded to my tweet, so ball is in Karnataka Govt, Hope they approve it soon if they get time from their internal squabble. So its 2 weeks from Karantaka Govt approval NICE road toll will be operational, Software and Hardware are all ready and installed. Tweet

[mpksuhas]

After HDFC fastag SMS mentioned on last page, there is message doing rounds that it will become working from 14- Feb.

[shamanth]

Looks like fastag implementation is struck between NICE and State Govt(PWD) dispute. Though infra is ready https://www.deccanherald.com/state/t...ag-949478.html

[Bibendum90949]

Hope it comes out soon after going through all the perennial red tapism. Worst even is these guys don't have option to pay via Paytm too. These days with so much payment options via phone itself, I don't rush back home if i've forgotten my wallet. I always keep some cash in car for paying tolls though.

[shamanth]

Originally Posted by Bibendum90949

Hope it comes out soon after going through all the perennial red tapism. Worst even is these guys don't have option to pay via Paytm too. These days with so much payment options via phone itself, I don't rush back home if i've forgotten my wallet. I always keep some cash in car for paying tolls though.

Trying to get the attention of Govt and dept to resolve this with NICE. Cannot keep quiet and let Bengalurians suffer with their dispute. As the article says they can go for temporary fastag arrangement without recognition of the project. please retweet so that it finally gets some attention, falls on right ears and resolve this issue https://twitter.com/shamanthnv1/stat...046642176?s=19

[NPV]

The not so "nice" things about NICE road continue because the state government and NICE are at loggerheads again!

The government said that NICE had violated the contract and the matter is pending before a court and a decision can be taken on implementing FASTag only after the matter is resolved.

Fastag hits High Court Snag on NICE road

Source:New Indian Express, Bangalore

[jkrishnakj]

It’s just getting more painful by the day on the NICE roads. The entry from Bannerghatta Road towards Tumkur is choc-a-bloc almost every other day. The exit at eCity is a long wait these days. NICE has now taken the fun out of the drives also, with trucks hogging the roads and the two wheelers weaving in and out of the lanes.

And these days, you hear of a fatal accident/incident on these roads atleast on a regular basis.

[shamanth]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

It’s just getting more painful by the day on the NICE roads.

Off-topic.

Just getting jealous of UP advertisements on TV showing 100s of kms of expressway in UP, inaugurated, getting completed, etc.

Then realized, we in Karnataka don't have single expressway, and don't have plans for future expressway also. We were told NICE will be expressway from Bangalore to Mysore which never happened. Only other plan on cards is Bangalore-Chennai expressway that wont be much useful for Karnataka as 99% of road will be in TN.

Something wrong with Karnataka growth which contributes to one of the highest taxes in country with not a single expressway built nor has any plans to build any expressway.

Why not have Expressways inside karnataka, Blr-Mangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Tumkur(Blr-tumkur road is so narrow feels like driving in city), Mangaluru-Karwar?

[jkrishnakj]

You’re fully right Shamanth. At the risk of going offtopic, it’s still not late for the government and authorities to bring about a drastic change in thinking and making expressways.

Imaging the PRR- it gets spoken about in every budget and it’s been 15 years. PRR’s a joke, isn’t it. Anyways, this is going OT and I’ll stop.

[srishiva]

The one to Mysuru being built along the existing road is an expressway, right ?
Its slated to be completed by September next year. Close to 40% of work is completed.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by shamanth

Why not have Expressways inside karnataka, Blr-Mangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Tumkur(Blr-tumkur road is so narrow feels like driving in city), Mangaluru-Karwar?

For making expressways, you need to have the volume of traffic to justify that, especially the volume of freight traffic. Private traffic comes next.

Bangalore-Mysore is justified, since there is a lot of regular traffic (more private, less freight) but Mangalore-Karwar has a long way to go.

I did Mangalore-Ankola last week and realised that the traffic even on the current 4 lane dual carriageway is thin with hardly any vehicles, cars or trucks. Compare this to Goa - Panvel, the traffic there is quite heavy. If I would want to see expressways in my home state of Karnataka, it better be highways that has good volume of freight traffic and the best way to find out how good or bad the volume of traffic is in terms of trucks is to drive most of these highways at night.

Originally Posted by srishiva

The one to Mysuru being built along the existing road is an expressway, right ?
Its slated to be completed by September next year. Close to 40% of work is completed.

The problem is most of the regular roads today are referred to as expressways and the term is abused in many ways.

The Bangalore Mysore highway that is presently getting expanded will be 10 lane, 6 + 4 lane. 6 lanes for the regular traffic and 4 lanes for service road on either sides. This is in-line with most of the regular dual carriageway highways (Tumkur-Chitradurga is also 10 lane for that matter).

Technically, I would not call this expressway but will see this is as just another 6 lane National Highway unless this whole section will be access controlled like most of the actual expressways like - Mumbai-Pune, Baroda-Ahmedabad, NOIDA - Agra (YEW) etc.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

The Bangalore Mysore highway that is presently getting expanded will be 10 lane, 6 + 4 lane. 6 lanes for the regular traffic and 4 lanes for service road on either sides.

Would the service roads on either side be free-access ways?

When the Mysore-Bengaluru NICE expressway was initially mooted, it was said that it would be a toll road while the regular Mandya-Ramanagara route would be toll free. Now, when the regular road itself is getting converted into a tollway, it would be nice and in the spirit of justice to maintain a proper network of service roads - end to end.

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

Would the service roads on either side be free-access ways?

The very reason for service roads is to enable access to local traffic without levying the toll on them.

Not able to recollect but it is due to a very particular rule written somewhere that if there is no Service road or alternate (& feasible) route connecting Point A and B, the local vehicles need not pay the toll and should be allowed to let go free and use the main carriageway. Local vehicles from Davanagere and Ranebennur areas don't pay toll at Chalagere toll plaza on Bengaluru-Pune for the same reason. Local vehicles from Pune still don't pay toll at Khedshivpur plaza for the same reason too. The reason - There are no feasible alternate routes here between 2 points and there are no service roads! And this very road is part of Golden Quadrilateral.

When the Mysore-Bengaluru NICE expressway was initially mooted, it was said that it would be a toll road while the regular Mandya-Ramanagara route would be toll free.

This would have been the case when the expressway was mooted and these were the days when Bangalore Mysore was still a State Highway No -17 (today its National Highway). Those were the days when KSRDL never collected toll for state highways. Today there are quite a few SHs in Karnataka that collect toll for all types of vehicles (cars and trucks). There are states that collect toll only for trucks and not cars today (for state highways), for example Maharashtra.

Now, when the regular road itself is getting converted into a tollway, it would be nice and in the spirit of justice to maintain a proper network of service roads - end to end.

So, refer to what I mentioned in the very beginning of my post. The service roads will maintain this spirit of justice that you are referring to.

In the end, service roads are built for a purpose and its not for parking one's vehicle to attend a flat tire or a bio break or visit a restaurant. It's very purpose is to serve the local population who should not be paying the toll for their daily travel. If there are no service roads, they will be duly exempted from paying the toll and allowed to travel on the main carriageway itself.

[shamanth]

Govt reply in assembly on NICE Road Fastag

Replying to a question by MLC Prakash K Rathod in the Council, on implementing FASTag on NICE Road toll plazas, DyCM and Minister for Public Works Govind Karjol said that as per the contract, NICE was supposed to lay concrete road but has instead laid tar road, violating the terms and conditions of the contract. “The firm has approached the High Court and the matter is pending,” he said.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cit...d-2275000.html