The ban on two-wheelers, autos, tractors, non-motorised vehicles, multi-axle hydraulic trailer vehicles, and quadricycles from the main carriageways of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway from August 1 began with diversions and fines.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) deployed personnel at all entry and exit points on the 119-km long six-lane expressway to enforce the ban. When The Hindu visited the expressway on Tuesday, the NHAI and police personnel were diverting slow-moving vehicles towards the service road, and imposing a penalty on violators.
A police official, posted near Anchepalya where the expressway begins, told The Hindu, “If any slow-moving vehicle tries to enter the expressway, we impose a fine of ₹500. We have put up boards alerting such vehicles not to enter the expressway.”
However, auto drivers and bikers were upset with the decision of the NHAI. Manjunath K., an auto driver, said, “Auto drivers are not involved in any accident so far. Then, why are we banned? This ban will impact our business. The authorities have to reconsider the decision.”
Sam Ronaldo, a biker who usually takes the expressway to Ooty, said, "Bikers drive at over 60 kmph. Then, how are we slow-moving vehicles? Most two-wheelers are not slow-moving vehicles. The NHAI should allow 2-wheelers. We are ready to pay the toll."
Meanwhile, though the NHAI had deployed officials and police at the entry and exit points, a few autos and two-wheelers managed to enter the expressway through some unmanned points. When The Hindu visited most of the entry and exit points in the stretch to Mandya district, autos and two-wheelers managed to enter the expressway. Karthik G., a motorist near Channapatna said, “Most of us don’t know about the ban on two-wheelers on the expressway. We only use the stretch for 20 km, and no police have stopped us so far.”
Similarly, many two-wheelers were on the expressway near Maddur, Ramanagara and Channapatna and only near Bengaluru, near the town areas and toll plaza, the police were monitoring the violators.
Doubt about longer implementation
Meanwhile, four-wheelers and other vehicle drivers raised doubts about the successful implementation of the ban. Bhuvan Jain, a regular commuter on the expressway, welcomed the decision, but said: “I have a strong feeling that the ban implementation may fail. After a week, all autos and two-wheelers will be back on the expressway. How many days can the police and NHAI officials monitor on the road? Rather, they should come up with CCTV cameras at each exit and entry point and penalise the violators.”
Manoj Chandrasekhar, another commuter, suggested deploying more expressway patrolling vehicles and crew who can continuously monitor the road and catch those who violate the rule and penalise them. “Now there are only a few patrolling vehicles, which are not enough for the expressway. Police have to increase the number of patrol vehicles and officials so that all the rules are followed by the public for safe driving on the expressway.”
What does the ban say?
In a notification in July, the NHAI stated: “The movement of high-speed vehicles may pose a risk to the safety of certain classes of comparatively slow-moving vehicles, example: two-wheelers, three-wheelers and other slow-moving vehicles like non-motorised vehicles, agricultural tractors (with or without trailers), due to their vulnerability and associated speed differentials, and compromises road safety aspects.”
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The NHAI said that alternate routes and roads are available for such classes of vehicles. “And whereas this Access Controlled Highway has been developed as a high-speed corridor, and the maximum speed limit for motor vehicles of various descriptions for the Access Controlled Highway have been notified, varying between 80 km/hour to 100 km/hour.”
Since the expressway was opened to motorists, over 100 deaths have been reported and over 150 people have been severely injured in more than 308 accidents since March 12.
The Ramanagara police on Tuesday (August 1), in a statement, said that they had collected ₹68,500 as a fine from slow-moving vehicles that were violating the ban on their movement on the expressway in the Ramanagara district.
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