Motorists seeking shelter at underpasses in Bengaluru to be fined Rs 500, repeat offenders to pay Rs 1,000

Motorists in Bengluru who seek shelter at underpasses or below bridges during rain will now be fined Rs 500. Repeat offenders will be penalised Rs 1,000.

Motorists in Bengaluru will now be fined Rs 500 for seeking shelter at underpasses. Traffic police officials, on Thursday, announced that those halting below underpasses or bridges while trying to avoid rains will be penalised for ‘obstructing public roads’ and putting other road users in danger.

According to BR Ravikante Gowda, Joint commissioner of police (traffic), the decision was taken after four motorists sustained serious injuries after other vehicles rammed them in separate incidents across the city. Although nobody died in the incidents, two victims were badly injured.

He further added that first-time offenders would be fined Rs 500 while repeat offenders would be penalised Rs 1,000. “Most underpasses do not have proper lighting. When it rains, people can’t see anything until they reach the underpass. This is how the accidents happened,” explained Gowda.

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He advised the public to halt at BMTC bus shelters or any other such coverings, which are off the road.

"Keeping in mind the risk of parking below underpasses during rain, we deploy traffic police at some places, requesting the public not to take shelter. But, we cannot monitor all the underpasses at a given point in time," he added.