No Jam!

Traffic to be diverted before Varuna Aqueduct to keep vehicles moving at Manipal Hospital Junction

Mysuru: Last Dasara season, between Sept. 22 and Oct. 12, 2025, an average of 28,516 vehicles, including 25,113 cars and SUVs, entered Mysuru every day through the Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway 275.

This year, the traffic volume is expected to increase as the State Government is planning a bigger and grander Dasara with new attractions, including Kambala.

A major impediment to the smooth flow of traffic on the Highway is the ongoing Rs. 63.67-crore flyover/grade separator project taken up by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at Kempegowda Circle (Manipal Hospital Junction). Only about 30 percent of the flyover work has been completed so far.

While the flyover project is to ease the chronic traffic congestion at the junction, where multiple roads meet, the incomplete work is likely to become a major bottleneck for tourists entering and leaving Mysuru during Dasara.

Accordingly, just before the Varuna Canal Aqueduct, traffic movement will be diverted towards the left to reach Old Kesare Junction. Later, the commuters must take a right turn to join the Outer Ring Road and proceed further via R.S. Naidu Nagar.

With traffic expected to surge significantly, the District Administration is finalising a comprehensive traffic management plan. As part of the plan, traffic, especially cars, SUVs and two-wheelers entering Mysuru, will be diverted via Hale Kesare Road, opposite K.R. Mill Colony, which connects directly to the Outer Ring Road (275-K).

Mysuru Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy told Star of Mysore that the diversion through Hale Kesare Road would significantly ease traffic pressure at Kempegowda Circle.

“Traffic Police and Public Works Department officials have been directed to make arrangements to divert traffic,” he said.

Expected to touch 45,000 vehicles

According to NHAI data, in September 2025, an average of 22,197 vehicles, including 19,433 cars and SUVs, entered Mysuru every day through Gananguru Toll Plaza. In October 2025, the figure stood at 24,870 vehicles, including 22,119 cars and SUVs.

This is only the data recorded at Gananguru Toll Plaza. Not all vehicles use the tolled road, with many taking service roads to enter Mysuru.

According to traffic estimation data, vehicular movement between Bengaluru and Mysuru, including both the tolled road and service roads, is projected to reach nearly 45,000 vehicles a day, including an average of 25,000 to 28,000 cars.

Route diversions

To prevent severe congestion, officials are introducing strategic route diversions for vehicles heading towards Mysuru city.  Apart from diverting two-wheelers and four-wheelers through Hale Kesare, buses, trucks and other heavy vehicles will be re-routed to Yelwal via Srirangapatna and then to the Outer Ring Road.

Traffic Police and the local administration are monitoring peak inflow and outflow hours and will introduce additional diversions if traffic demand increases. On-site teams are also surveying key junctions to identify and finalise the exact diversion points before implementing the new traffic layout.

Temporary halt to flyover work

NHAI sources confirmed that, following discussions with the Deputy Commissioner and the City Police Commissioner, the ongoing flyover construction would be temporarily halted during the festival period.

The construction agency has been instructed to clear equipment to optimise available road space for smooth traffic flow during Dasara.

Many bypass routes proposed: DCP

We are considering diverting cars, SUVs, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and two-wheelers towards Hale Kesare Road. However, the road needs to be inspected to check whether the work has been completed and whether it is usable.

Heavy trucks arriving through Gananguru Toll Plaza will be diverted towards Royal Inn Junction. The proposed bypass route involves diverting vehicles towards the Pump House/Yelwal area and towards Hunsur Road and Mangaluru Road.

These measures are still under planning and review. Physical inspections will be carried out over the next two or three days to assess the road conditions before finalising the diversions.

— K.S. Sundar Raj, DCP (Crime & Traffic)