Bengaluru Commuters Demand Stricter HTV Curbs After 18,476 Violations

Commuters and road safety advocates across Bengaluru, including areas such as Panathur, KR Circle, and Doddakannelli-Carmelaram Road, are demanding stricter curbs and enforcement on Heavy Transport Vehicles (HTVs) following a surge in violations and fatal accidents.

According to Bengaluru Traffic Police data, 18,476 violations involving HTVs were recorded between January and July 2026. This figure accounts for nearly 78 percent of the 23,682 violations registered during the entire 2025 calendar year. Police officials noted that the majority of offences involved lorries and goods vehicles entering city roads during restricted hours.

While essential service vehicles—including water tankers, BMTC buses, and civic garbage trucks—are permitted during restricted hours, their operations have drawn sharp scrutiny following severe collisions with two-wheelers and pedestrians.

Recent incidents include a July 17 crash where a water tanker struck a scooter, killing 67-year-old Venkatanna and injuring his two grandchildren. On July 6, a speeding water tanker on Doddakannelli-Carmelaram Road hit a scooter, killing 61-year-old Sudha Devi and injuring her husband. On August 20, an allegedly unregistered water tanker collided with a motorcycle on Gunjur-Palya CDP Road in Panathur, where the rider narrowly escaped.

BMTC electric buses and garbage trucks have also been involved in fatal accidents. On July 4, an electric bus collided with a stationary airport bus at KR Circle, injuring up to 18 passengers and critically injuring the driver. Earlier incidents near Tin Factory bus stand and Sirsi Circle claimed the lives of a 25-year-old woman and two male motorists in separate crashes.

Mohan Kumar Danappa, a member of the Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority, pointed to aggressive behaviour and a sense of impunity among some drivers operating government and civic vehicles. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Traffic) Gopal M Byakod said cases are registered whenever negligence is reported, though conducting regular training programmes for essential vehicle drivers remains difficult due to rigid operational schedules.