8 months ago
3
Bengaluru’s motorists are raising alarm implicit the increasing inclination of dense lorries to inhabit the right-most lanes connected highways, peculiarly connected the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), amended known arsenic NICE Road.
Commuters accidental the signifier not lone slows postulation but besides creates unsafe situations for smaller and faster vehicles attempting to overtake. Similar grievances are being reported connected the Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway and the Nelamangala–Tumakuru highway.
NICE Road nary longer ‘smooth driving’
Once considered a comparatively stress-free bypass compared to the city’s congested roads, NICE Road is present becoming a nightmare, galore complain. While it was primitively designed to easiness postulation flow, the surge of dense lorries utilizing it to debar metropolis roads has altered the driving experience.
Commuters kick that contempt the agelong being designed for vehicles travelling astatine speeds astir 80 kmph, dense lorries often crawl on successful the right-most lane astatine astir 40 kmph. The deficiency of lane discipline, they say, forces cars to weave dangerously betwixt lorries oregon encroach upon the two-wheeler lanes, importantly raising mishap risks.
Prashanth Kumar, who travels regular from Bannerghatta Road to Mysuru Road, described the challenges faced by motorists. “NICE Road successful 1 absorption has conscionable 2 lanes, positive an further lane for bikes. Lorries are expected to enactment near and springiness mode to faster vehicles connected the right. But astir fractional of them instrumentality to the close lane. Since they cannot overtake each different quickly, they make bottlenecks. Cars are forced to zig-zag oregon gaffe into the motorcycle lane. It becomes precise scary erstwhile you are sandwiched betwixt 2 lorries astatine a adjacent distance. Proper signage astir lane subject indispensable beryllium enactment up,” helium said.
Another motorist, Venkatesh Murthy from Kanakapura Road who travels regularly to Tumakuru road, said nighttime driving is adjacent worse. “The NICE agelong is terrifying astatine night. Trucks hog the close lane, determination are nary due streetlights. I erstwhile drove during dense rainfall and had to enactment highly alert. It was a unspeakable experience,” helium said.
Highway woes
The occupation is not confined to NICE Road. Similar complaints person surfaced connected the access-controlled Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway and the Nelamangala–Tumakuru stretch.
Prasanna Kumar, who often commutes to Mangaluru from Bengaluru and besides takes Tumakuru roadworthy stretch, said the signifier of lorries blocking close lanes is widespread. “On the Bengaluru–Mysuru highway, I person often seen 3 lorries 1 aft different occupying the accelerated lane, the aforesaid lawsuit connected the Tumakuru roadworthy agelong too. They thrust astatine the aforesaid velocity and permission nary country for different vehicles. It puts different motorists successful danger,” helium said.
Truckers warrant practice
Lorry drivers, however, reason that their behaviour is not reckless but economically driven. Rajana K., a lorry operator with 15 years of experience, said dense conveyance operators similar cruising steadily astatine 50–60 kmph successful bid to maximise substance efficiency.
“Our income depends straight connected substance savings. The right-most lane allows america to support a dependable velocity without unnecessary braking oregon accelerating. The near lane is often obstructed by stationary vehicles, tractors, oregon slow-moving autos oregon 2 wheelers. We are not deliberately violating rules but simply trying to bash our occupation successful the astir businesslike way,” helium explained.
Meanwhile, the postulation constabulary officials admit the challenge. A elder serviceman said that enforcement drives are regularly carried retired against those who flout lane discipline. Additionally, NICE authorities person installed boards on respective stretches, instructing vehicles connected lane usage. “Despite signage, galore truckers proceed to misuse the accelerated lane. We are stepping up surveillance and fines to deter specified violations,” the serviceman added. However, NICE authorities were not disposable for a comment.
