Karnataka Footpath Driving Fine May Rise 10 Times To Rs. 5,000: Check New Penalty, Rules and Latest Update

Motorists in Karnataka who drive or ride their vehicles on footpaths could soon face a much higher penalty, with the state government planning to increase the fine from the existing Rs. 500 to Rs. 5,000.

Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh has confirmed that the Transport Department is working on the proposal in consultation with the Home Department. Under the proposed rules, motorists could be fined Rs. 5,000 for the first offence and Rs. 10,000 for a second offence.

However, the revised fine has not come into effect yet. The government is yet to issue an official gazette notification, and the existing Rs. 500 penalty will continue to apply until a final order is published.

Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said the proposal to increase the fine has been submitted by the Transport and Home departments. The government is expected to take a final decision after that.

The penalty is expected to discourage motorists from using pedestrian footpaths as an alternative to congested roads.
Back in July, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda raised concerns about motorists driving on footpaths.

He pointed out that many footpaths in Bengaluru had been cleared of encroachments after Supreme Court directions. However, motorists had started using these newly cleared footpaths to escape traffic congestion, creating safety risks for pedestrians.

Krishna Byre Gowda said that the existing Rs. 500 fine was not enough to stop such violations. He then wrote to the Transport Department seeking a ten-fold increase in the penalty.

Karnataka Govt May Also Increase Fines For Other Traffic Violations

Apart from footpath driving, the state government is also discussing higher penalties for several other traffic violations.
These include parking vehicles on footpaths, driving in the wrong direction on one-way roads, unauthorised parking, parking in no-parking zones and signal violations.

The government is also considering increasing the fine for one-way violations tenfold from the existing Rs. 1,000. If approved, these changes in the traffic penalties will very costly for motorists across Karnataka.