Bengaluru: After drawing criticism from private vehicle owners, BBMP has decided to mandate masks only to passengers in commercial vehicles like cabs and public transport buses. The rule exempts two-wheeler riders as well.

In the light of the rising cases in Bengaluru, BBMP held a meeting on March 12 to discuss the enforcement of masks for passengers through penalising them. BBMP’s plan to penalise offenders drew heavy criticisms especially from private car owners who questioned the purpose of the rule if the windows are rolled up.

Taking the criticisms into consideration, masks were then made mandatory only for vehicles with more than one person, and for all two-wheeler riders. But, marshals argued that citizens complain about the need to wear masks when all passengers belong to the same family.

Bringing the debate to a conclusion, BBMP commissioner, Manjunath Prasad expressed his concern that the marshals are being exploited. He added that marshals are wasting their time fighting with whiteboard vehicles while the focus should be on violations committed by yellow-board vehicles.

The concern to enforce masks comes after Karnataka reported cases on March 12 with 526 coming from Bengaluru itself.