Ban of certain vehicles on expressway begins

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Enforcing the ban which was announced earlier, the police personnel deputed at the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway started diverting two-wheelers, three-wheelers and several other types of vehicles to the service road while stopping them from entering the main carriage ways of the expressway.

After an announcement from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), vehicles such as twowheelers, autos, tractors, non-motorised vehicles, multiaxle hydraulic trailer vehicles, and quadri cycles were barred from using the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway starting from August 1.

Several policemen deployed at the entry and exit points of the expressway said that if any slowmoving vehicle tries to enter the expressway, a fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on them.

The NHAI and the police have also put up notice boards regarding the ban of certain vehicles. Meanwhile, bikers who have to take the Expressway to reach their offices are protesting against the ban.

However the ban was criticised by a lot of motorists who said that the service roads are narrow and damaged.

"The authorities have not repaired the roads and are now asking us to use them. Again there will be accidents," a twowheeler rider said.

Some motorists expressed outrage over the decision and said that the expressway itself was built unscientifically. The NHAI in its notification had stated that slow-moving vehicles like two-wheelers, tractors, autos and other non-motor vehicles might compromise road safety aspects as the expressway is meant to be for fast-moving vehicles.

It also said that alternate routes and separate roads are available for such vehicles. The decision came after an increasing number of accidents on the expressway.