<p>The ban on two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, tractors and non-motorised vehicles on the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/autos-two-wheelers-cant-use-bengaluru-mysuru-e-way-from-august-1-1240663.html">which came into effect on Tuesday</a>, was largely successful, but there were a few evaders too.</p>.<p>Police and NHAI officials were busy at the junction near Panchamukhi Ganapathi temple in Kengeri, trying to divert two-wheeler and auto drivers from the expressway, while notice boards on the road alerted the riders about the change.</p>.<p>Most of those vehicles were diverted on to the service road, but a few evaded the officials’ checks and proceeded towards the toll booth.</p>.<p>Drivers of such vehicles were warned at the toll booth, but allowed to continue on the service road.</p>.<p>An NHAI official noted that all the 20-odd vehicles that had violated the rules and reached the toll booth were two-wheelers. </p>.<p>“There are violations since the rule is new. That is why we are letting them off with warnings. Things should settle down in a week or two,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>Mixed reactions</strong></p>.<p>However, the riders were ambivalent about the move. While some hailed it as a welcome step to thwart accidents on the highway, others opposed it citing inconvenience due to extended travel time.</p>.<p>Srinivas, a retired sub-inspector, welcomed the decision. He said, “It is a welcome step by NHAI as it will bring down fatal accidents since most of the casualties are two-wheeler riders.”</p>.<p>Manu, a resident of Pandavapur taluk in Mandya and a practising advocate in Karnataka High Court, was not impressed with the changes. “I travel at least three to four times a week to my hometown on my bike. The journey on the highway takes around an hour to my village, but the time is double on the service road,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>Not foolproof</strong></p>.<p>The plan is not foolproof as there are junctions where two-wheelers on the service road can rejoin the e-way. While policemen were present at the junctions on Tuesday, the vigilance is bound to decrease in the coming days, making it easier for violators.</p>.<p>A junction before Bidadi is a case in point. While the policemen stop two-wheelers and autos from rejoining the e-way here, there hasn’t been any similar checks to stop four-wheelers that come from the service roads.</p>.<p>Several four-wheelers have been avoiding both toll plazas on the way to Mysuru, saving Rs 330 in the process.</p>
<p>The ban on two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, tractors and non-motorised vehicles on the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/autos-two-wheelers-cant-use-bengaluru-mysuru-e-way-from-august-1-1240663.html">which came into effect on Tuesday</a>, was largely successful, but there were a few evaders too.</p>.<p>Police and NHAI officials were busy at the junction near Panchamukhi Ganapathi temple in Kengeri, trying to divert two-wheeler and auto drivers from the expressway, while notice boards on the road alerted the riders about the change.</p>.<p>Most of those vehicles were diverted on to the service road, but a few evaded the officials’ checks and proceeded towards the toll booth.</p>.<p>Drivers of such vehicles were warned at the toll booth, but allowed to continue on the service road.</p>.<p>An NHAI official noted that all the 20-odd vehicles that had violated the rules and reached the toll booth were two-wheelers. </p>.<p>“There are violations since the rule is new. That is why we are letting them off with warnings. Things should settle down in a week or two,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>Mixed reactions</strong></p>.<p>However, the riders were ambivalent about the move. While some hailed it as a welcome step to thwart accidents on the highway, others opposed it citing inconvenience due to extended travel time.</p>.<p>Srinivas, a retired sub-inspector, welcomed the decision. He said, “It is a welcome step by NHAI as it will bring down fatal accidents since most of the casualties are two-wheeler riders.”</p>.<p>Manu, a resident of Pandavapur taluk in Mandya and a practising advocate in Karnataka High Court, was not impressed with the changes. “I travel at least three to four times a week to my hometown on my bike. The journey on the highway takes around an hour to my village, but the time is double on the service road,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>Not foolproof</strong></p>.<p>The plan is not foolproof as there are junctions where two-wheelers on the service road can rejoin the e-way. While policemen were present at the junctions on Tuesday, the vigilance is bound to decrease in the coming days, making it easier for violators.</p>.<p>A junction before Bidadi is a case in point. While the policemen stop two-wheelers and autos from rejoining the e-way here, there hasn’t been any similar checks to stop four-wheelers that come from the service roads.</p>.<p>Several four-wheelers have been avoiding both toll plazas on the way to Mysuru, saving Rs 330 in the process.</p>
