Four dead on Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway in Kaniminike as bridge remains unfinished

At least four pedestrians have died and six others were injured between January 2025 and May 2026 while trying to cross a dangerous 150- to 200-metre stretch of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway in Kaniminike, west Bengaluru. Located just 600 metres from the Kaniminike Toll Plaza, this section of the highway lacks safe pedestrian infrastructure, forcing over a thousand local university students and residents to risk their lives daily because a foot overbridge project has remained incomplete for 18 months.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) initiated the construction of the foot overbridge about 18 months ago. However, the project was halted due to land acquisition issues. To cross the high-speed corridor, pedestrians have cut open the fencing on both sides of the highway, creating a makeshift and highly hazardous crossing point.

According to Bengaluru Traffic Police data, more than four fatal accidents and at least six non-fatal accidents were officially recorded on this specific stretch between January 2025 and May 2026. Local residents and students note that many other non-fatal accidents likely go unreported.

The surrounding neighbourhood is highly active, bustling with students and daily-wage labourers. Within a 200-metre radius of the highway stretch, there are nearly a hundred paying guest accommodations. Residents living on the side of the highway towards Mysuru must cross to the other side to travel towards Bengaluru city, which is a frequent occurrence, especially on weekends.

While pedestrians could cross safely at the Kaniminike Toll Plaza, doing so requires walking an additional kilometre. Consequently, many choose to risk the direct highway crossing instead.

Local student Prashanth described crossing the highway as "always a gamble," noting that it causes significant anxiety for pedestrians. Mokshith Chaturvedula, a 19-year-old second-year BBA student, recalled that one of his seniors died last year, and a female student was injured in a separate incident shortly after.

Manjula, who runs a tea stall near the highway, said she has witnessed three deaths over the past year. She recalled an incident late last year when a car struck a pedestrian, flinging him 60 to 70 metres from the main carriageway to the service road.

An NHAI official in charge of the project stated that the land acquisition issues that halted construction have now been resolved. The official promised that work would resume soon and the foot overbridge would be completed within two months.