The proposal to lift the night traffic ban at Bandipur has provoked outrage among wildlife activists. It has driven conservation biologist and member of the State Board for Wildlife Sanjay Gubbi to map out an alternative solution to the issue: Upgrade the existing alternative route skirting Bandipur to an elevated highway, and decommission NH 766 (old 212) passing through the core area of the tiger reserve.
In a letter to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Mr. Gubbi has reasoned that this would not only eliminate road kills and disturbance to wildlife, but the elevated sections would serve as high-speed roads to reach Kerala and reduce the duration of the journey. That is just one of his suggestions that may serve as an alternative to the proposals of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) of constructing flyovers or elevated stretches through Bandipur, and widening the existing road passing through the core area.
The current ban on night traffic along NH 766 through Bandipur is to reduce disturbance to wildlife and road kills and the issue is being contested in the Supreme Court.
In his letter to Mr. Kumaraswamy, Mr. Gubbi suggested that 9.8 km of the alternative road (SH -90) be developed as an elevated highway. A part of the same alternative road (about 8.7 km) passes along the edge of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and this too could be developed as an elevated highway which would ensure the availability of a high-speed road to reach Kerala.
Once these two stretches are developed as elevated roads, the existing NH 766 cutting through the core area of Bandipur could be decommissioned and closed, said Mr. Gubbi. The alternative route is about 38 km of which 18.5 km would be elevated highway.
Since the alternate road passes through the edge of the forests, the impact it has will be far less than the current highway that passes through the core of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, he said in the letter.
If the permanent decommissioning of NH 766 is not feasible, Mr. Gubbi suggested a ban on traffic which is at present from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. be extended from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
He said that MoRTH’s suggestions of having barricades to prevent animals coming to the highways and construction of underpasses for animal movement were neither useful nor sustainable.
Forest Minister refutes Revanna’s claims
Forest Minister R. Shankar has refuted the claims of his Cabinet colleague H.D. Revanna that flyovers would be constructed over Bandipur, and asserted that night traffic ban through the tiger reserve will stay.
Speaking to reporters in the city on Friday, Mr. Shankar said the State government will not bow under any pressure, either from the Centre or Kerala, and it has decided to maintain status quo: to continue the existing restriction on night traffic ban from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Bandipur. “Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has been apprised of the public sentiments and have been told not to accept it. If you take up construction work, it will take three years and this will create disturbance. Besides, we have created an alternative route which can be used. This proposal will only create havoc and destruction,” said Mr. Shankar.
‘No confusion’
Meanwhile, PCCF (Wildlife) Jayaram said there is no confusion over the matter and the night traffic ban will stay.
