A Brief about the road
The Bangalore – Mysore Expressway being built by NICE (Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise) has been a subject of many controversies for almost a decade. After a change in the state government a year ago, NICE managed to get past the official hurdles and make some progress with road construction. The project includes building a peripheral road around the city, connecting all the highways with Bangalore – Mysore expressway. The peripheral road is nearly complete, and is already in use. NICE collects a toll to use the road.
My Experience
I was driving back to town from Hassan on a weekday evening. I live in South Bangalore (JP Nagar) and was entering the city from the opposite direction. The thought of having to get into the city and wade through evening traffic was bothering me. I vaguely recalled a friend mentioning that NICE road is an alternate option. On spotting a sign, I decided to take it. If I had driven through the city from this place, it would have been nearly 25km to my place. Considering the peak hour traffic, it would have taken 2 to 2.5 hours get home.
I entered the road at 7.10pm after paying a toll of Rs.50. It is built as a freeway with no signals, and has flyovers for the crossing traffic wherever necessary. The road is is a smooth road with no obstructions, no humps or such obstacles anywhere on the way. Entire stretch of the road is fenced. There is a dividing lane in the center almost 10m wide, ensuring that you are not troubled by the head lights from the oncoming traffic.
Being new to the road, I did not exceed 80kmph and drove at uniform speed, but it is safe to drive at three-figure speeds. My exit at Kanakapura Road was 25km away, and it was 7.30pm when I reached there. I was at home by 7.45pm.
Conclusion
I saved anything between 90 to 120 minutes by taking NICE road. Besides the saving in time, I also did not have to wade through painful peak hour traffic. The road is safer than it’s alternate options, but it did come with some surprises. I saw a few men walking on the service road in two occasions (which is not that bad), and also encountered a car trying to go in the wrong direction (which can be fatal)!
At Rs.2 per kilometer, it is 3 to 4 times more expensive than Bangalore – Tumkur highway. But for someone who takes the road once in a while to go across the city, it is worth that money for all the time and effort saved. If I were to drive to Mysore regularly when the road is ready, considering that there already is a good road to Mysore, I may not think of paying so much toll very often.
even i was thinking of using the NICE road last time I was getting back to the city from Mysore road. I’ve used it earlier to get to mysore road from Koramangala and was impressed with the quality of roads. The problem now is that I dont know which will be a good point to get back to the city (in my case, I stay in Cambridge road). May be, once the elevated Hosur road is complete, I can give it a try (Mysore road -> Link road -> Hosur road -> Silk board -> MG Road) … dunno if it makes any sense
NICE road has helped me a lot, especially while going or coming back from Tumkur side!!
Most of the toll roads give free entry to bikes-NICE Doesn’t.
When i drive back from Sringeri, via Hassan, i always take this road to join Bannergatta road. I stay in HSR layout and it saves me 80-90 minutes always.
- Pradeep
@Sandeep, I doubt if it would really help when you live in the center of the city..
@Aravind, yes, it is a boon of sorts. It is terrible driving through the city.
@Shrinidhi, they surprised me too. I have paid two-wheeler toll once.
@Pradeep, Isnt Hosur Road better to get to HSR?
Wouldn’t the toll paid (50) be recouped by the savings in petrol by not idling in traffic in city ?
Glad to hear that…Finally there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
@Manu, in the above case(from Tumkur Road to K’pura road), probably yes. It might depend on where are you going. But the real benefit is not in fuel savings – it is the trouble free way of getting from one end to other.
@Ajeya, yes, it is really a relief.
@Arun – I have not seen the stretch after bannerghatta road so usually take b’ road itself to come back. Probably next time i will try this.
@arun: Less travel time is obviously the first benefit but What i meant was the toll would recoup itself in fuel savings. So it looks like a total win.
[...] Road review – NICE road [...]
Can some help me with directions to NICE road from ITPL. I am planing to travel to Mysore-Ooty.
Recently I have travelled from Link Road (Near to Nayandahalli/PES College) to Bannerughatta Road. Fare is Rs. 45/- for a four wheeler.
Approach to Toll Collection point near PES College is not good. When some one enters from Mysore Road, one has to struggle to find the entry point.
Exit near Bannnerughatta is not yet completed. Between these two points one can travel without any problem. After entering reaching Colve Junction, one has to face the truch traffic. Many times they occupy both the lanes.
While travelling back, I have noticed that signs are confusing to take a deviation to Link Road leading to PES College Junction.
Any idea if NICE road is completed all the way till mysore and ready to use.
Not yet. The work is still in progress.
[...] for the first light of the dawn, on a not-so-chill winter morning two weeks ago. The obstacle-free NICE road and the toll highway to Tumkur let us clock the miles quickly and approach our destination earlier [...]