The Karnataka Forest Department is firm in its stand to maintain the ban of vehicles in Bandipur Tiger Reserve from 9 p.m to 6 a.m, but the transport department has a different stand.
On Friday, at the 22nd South India Transport Council (SITCO), the State Transport Department, sought the relaxing of the night ban on vehicular movement in the region of Wayanad, Bandipur and Nagarahole for operations of buses of State-run road transport corporations of both States.
Transport Minister H.M. Revanna said in the interest of the public, a request has been made to revert to the old system of bus operation. The plan involves operating 40 buses of Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and 32 buses of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), even at night.
The matter is pending before the apex court. Transport Commissioner B. Dayananda said, “If the night ban is relaxed, it will help the public of both States. A request has been made to the Forest Department of the State.”
Mr. Revanna’s counterparts A.K. Saseendran from Kerala, M.R. Vijayabhaskar from Tamil Nadu, and Ramakrishna S. Dawalikar from Goa, too, were part of the council.
A senior official of the Transport Department of Kerala said, “At present, four buses operate from both sides. We are asking for a relaxation only for the State-run road transport corporation and not for private operators. Owing to the ban, buses are operated on other alternative routes to reach the destinations. If night ban is relaxed, it will help passengers who travel on weekends and during festive seasons as well.” He added that the proposal will be placed before a Supreme Court-appointed committee which is looking into the issue.
80 kmph speed limit for two-wheelers
SITCO passed a resolution on fixing speed governors to non-transport vehicles including two-wheelers. A department official said accident rates suggest two-wheeler riders are more prone to accidents and there is a need to limit the speed to 80 kmph for all categories of two-wheelers.
Transport Minister H.M. Revanna said a proposal will be forwarded to the Union government. “We will ask the the Centre to amend the Motor Vehicles Act or direct manufacturers to produce two-wheelers to limit the speed,” he said.
Stop temporary registration of luxury cars: Puducherry
At the meeting, the registration of luxury cars in Puducherry to avoid taxes was also discussed. Puducherry Transport officials maintained that they were following rules.
They suggested that if RTOs in Karnataka stopped issuing temporary registration for luxury cars, it will stop owners from registering vehicles in Puducherry to evade taxes.
A Transport Department official said, “Road tax in Karnataka is higher than in Puducherry for luxury vehicles. What owners of such cars usually do is after buying the car, they temporarily register them in the State. This is valid for a month. Then, they go to Puducherry to get permanent registration by paying a lower tax. If they register here, they end up paying 18% on the total cost of the car that comes up to lakhs. After registering the vehicle in Puducherry, they start using the car in Karnataka. We will direct RTOs to not issue temporary registration to avoid tax evasion.”
