Bengaluru: The newly opened stretch from Hoskote Interchange to Bethamangala is operational with comprehensive road safety measures, allowing all vehicle types. However, toll collection has not commenced as National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) awaits directives after submitting a request for toll notification.

Currently, motorists are utilizing the route freely, exiting at Bethamangala and continuing via local roads to reach Mulbagal and the Andhra Pradesh border. This 68-km toll-free segment will soon be integrated into the full 260-km Bengaluru-Sriperumbudur Expressway, facilitating speeds of up to 120 km/h. The final 3 km of the Karnataka section is projected to open by year-end.

NHAI intends to establish two toll plazas in Karnataka, likely imposing restrictions on bikes, autorickshaws, and tractors, similar to the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. The expressway is linked to the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), connecting Dabaspet to Hoskote and offering access for commuters from Tumakuru Road and Bengaluru-Hyderabad Highway.

To address congestion on Old Madras Road, there are proposals to expand the Bengaluru-Kolar Highway from four to ten lanes, including a six-lane mainline and a four-lane service road. This will ease traffic flow, especially at bottlenecks like KR Puram, Benniganahalli, and Tin Factory, where over 90,000 vehicles pass daily.

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