Is ban on 2-wheelers, autos on e-way built with public money a fair rule?

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: In a recent move, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) banned two-wheelers and autorickshaws from using the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway.

The ban is effective from August 1, 2023. The NHAI cited safety concerns as the reason for the ban. The expressway is a high-speed corridor, and the presence of slow-moving two-wheelers and autos could pose a risk to other motorists.

The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway is a 118-kilometre, sixlane highway that was inaugurated in March 2023. The expressway is designed to allow cars, buses and trucks to travel at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour.

The ban has been met with mixed reactions. While some motorists have welcomed the move, saying that it will make the expressway safer, most people have criticised the ban, saying that it will inconvenience people who rely on twowheelers and autos for transportation.

What citizens say

Several netizens on social media have expressed concern that the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which was constructed with public taxpayer money, is now being reserved for an elite group of people who constitute only about 30 per cent of the population.

Professor Ashish Verma, who specializes in transport engineering systems at the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, said that this has now become an equity issue.

He said, "This move is a disadvantage to people who cannot afford cars. It is the elites compromising the road space, and it is a bad decision taken by the respective officials."

The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway has been the scene of a number of fatal accidents in recent months. Since January 2023, there have been 296 accidents and 132 deaths on the expressway, according to a report by the Karnataka police.

The most common causes of accidents on the expressway are speeding reckless driving, and lane violations. The expressway is also prone to accidents due to its sharp curves and narrow lanes. The Karnataka government has taken some steps to improve safety on the expressway, such as installing speed cameras and rumble strips.

However, more needs to be done to prevent accidents on this important transportation corridor. Some socially aware citizens opine that a possible reason for the high number of accidents is that drivers are not familiar with the rules of the road on expressways.

The Karnataka government should include theory classes in the driving licence test to teach drivers about all kinds of roads and rules.

This would help drivers to be more aware of the risks and to drive more safely on expressways, and even while riding inside the city.

What’s the solution?

Professor Ashish Verma has suggested that the government build separate lanes for different types of vehicles on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. He argues that this would be a more sustainable solution than compromising the expressway for the elite population.

Verma added that the government could even build medians to separate the lanes, which would be a relatively simple and cost-effective way to improve safety on the expressway