Two-wheelers may be barred from Electronics City flyover from September 11

An estimated 20,000 to 25,000 two-wheeler commuters could lose access to the Electronics City elevated corridor from September 11, when traffic police plan to begin a safety-driven ban on bikes.

For riders travelling between Silk Board and Electronics City, the alternative is the surface road, where the journey towards the IT hub can involve six to eight traffic signals. More than 30,000 two-wheeler toll transactions are recorded daily at the Electronics City plaza, while an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 riders hold monthly passes.

The flyover has been a paid, signal-free route for two-wheelers for nearly 16 years. A monthly pass costs Rs 785; daily and single-trip passes cost Rs 40 and Rs 25 respectively.

Traffic police linked the September 11 start date to the scheduled end of Bangalore Elevated Tollway Pvt Ltd’s contract on September 10. The operator has sought at least 100 more days of toll collection, citing Covid-period losses. NHAI has put out a tender for a new toll-plaza operator, while the extension request is before a Conciliation Committee of Independent Experts.