Over 3,300 breakdowns on three flyovers in 19 months: Why Bengaluru is putting restrictions on goods vehicles

Three of the five elevated corridors in Bengaluru, on which goods vehicles, trucks and heavy vehicles are banned, witnessed 1,000-plus incidents each of goods vehicle breakdowns in 19 months between 2025 and 2026 (July), according to official data accessed by The Hindu.The Peenya flyover witnessed a total of 1,126 breakdown incidents, while the airport road flyover reported 1,100, and the B.G.S. flyover on Mysuru Road witnessed 1,090 incidents. The Electronics City and Double Decker flyovers witnessed 398 and 271 incidents, respectively, the data revealed.Elevated corridor20252026*TotalAirport Road flyover7513491,100BGS Flyover5875031,090Peenya flyover7974291,226Double Decker131140271Electronics City245153398* Till July-endThe breakdown incidents include heavy vehicles, light goods vehicles, and smaller trucks, as per the Bengaluru Traffic Police classification. Restrictions on these flyovers have been in effect since September 4 on all flyovers, barring the Electronics City elevated corridor, where the restriction will begin on September 11.Increase in goods vehicles entering cityAccording to the data, barring the airport road corridor, the flyovers are witnessing a spike in the number of breakdowns every year. For example, on the B.G.S. flyover, nearly 300 incidents of goods vehicle breakdowns were reported in the first seven months, while in the corresponding period of 2026, the flyover has witnessed 503 breakdowns.A senior police officer explained that the trend of increase in numbers has been witnessed for many years now. In some cases, there has been an uptick in breakdown incidents for over a decade, which became the reason for the police to impose restrictions.“Goods vehicles entering the city have increased multifold in the last decade, along with the booming industries and commercial activities in the city. This increase has had a negative impact on traffic in terms of slowing down the commute speed, which results in an increase in commute time as well,” the officer said.“If such big vehicles break down on corridors like the airport stretch, traffic in an entire part of the city is paralysed. So, restrictions have been planned,” he explained.Impact on traffic movementThe officer explained that a breakdown on an elevated corridor will have an immediate impact on traffic, as the limited carriageway leaves little room for motorists to manoeuvre around a stranded vehicle.“During breakdowns, suddenly there is a queue of vehicles behind the stranded vehicle. Many times, this queue spills over to ramps as well. So, there is a larger impact, which cannot be managed without traffic personnel. In case it happens somewhere in the middle of the corridor, it will be difficult for even police personnel to reach the spot,” he explained.He pointed out that some flyovers have witnessed two breakdowns in a day, and many times, they occurred during peak hours. “Even one breakdown will take nearly three to four hours to clear if it’s in the middle of the corridor. In addition, we need towing vehicles to reach the location, which further slows down the traffic,” he added.Further, the officer stressed that goods vehicles are not banned entirely on elevated corridors. There is a time adjustment, especially keeping peak hours in mind, while there is no impact on commercial activities as well.Karthik Reddy, Joint Commissioner (Traffic), said that before the restrictions were planned, a comprehensive survey was taken up to assess the impact and outcome, and based on those results, the restrictions have been imposed.While commuters welcome the move, they still question the logic behind the ban on two-wheelers, stressing that flyovers are not only for car owners but for all sections of society. However, police maintain that the restrictions are for the safety of two-wheeler riders.