Bengaluru, June 23: The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has clarified that traffic congestion was not the reason a NEET 2026 candidate failed to reach an examination centre before the prescribed entry deadline on June 21. The clarification comes after allegations circulated on social media suggesting that traffic restrictions linked to a public event had delayed the student's journey.
In a detailed fact-check shared on X, the traffic police said an examination of CCTV footage, route analysis and interactions with the candidate and parents showed that the candidate arrived at the centre after the cutoff time due to a late start from home and the choice of a longer travel route.
CCTV footage used to verify timeline
According to the police, the candidate left home in R.T. Nagar at 12:57 pm on the day of the examination. The prescribed cutoff time for entry into the examination centre was 1:30 pm.
CCTV footage reviewed by investigators showed that the candidate reached the examination centre area at 1:33 pm, three minutes after the deadline had passed.
The police said the timeline was established through CCTV analysis conducted across the route taken by the student.
Longer route added to delay
Officials noted that the candidate began the journey only 33 minutes before the examination centre's entry deadline.
A route assessment carried out by the police found that a shorter route was available and could have reduced travel time. However, the candidate travelled through a comparatively longer route.
"Route analysis indicates that the candidate travelled through a longer route despite the availability of a shorter route which could have enabled quicker travel," the police said in its statement.
Traffic conditions were normal, say Police
Addressing claims that a public event in the city caused traffic disruptions, Bengaluru Traffic Police stated that traffic conditions remained largely normal on the day.
The department said there was no significant congestion linked to the event that could have prevented the candidate from reaching the centre on time.
Officials added that traffic personnel deployed along the route were actively assisting movement wherever necessary.
"Traffic Police personnel deployed on the route were seen facilitating the candidate's movement wherever required," the statement noted.
Police reject link between public event and delay
Based on the findings, the police concluded that there was no evidence to support the claim that traffic restrictions or congestion caused by the public event led to the candidate missing the entry deadline.
The department said the delay was primarily attributable to two factors, the candidate's departure from home only 33 minutes before the cutoff time and the decision to take a longer route to the examination centre.
"The available evidence does not indicate that traffic congestion caused by the public event led to the delay," the Bengaluru Traffic Police said.
Commitment to transparency
The clarification was issued after the department reviewed CCTV footage and spoke with the candidate and family members to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency, the police said the findings were based on verifiable evidence and route analysis.
