Karnataka rejects lifting of night travel ban via Bandipur; Kerala may move SC

Kerala will approach the Supreme Court again seeking exemption for interstate vehicles especially buses of the Kerala State Transport Corporation (KSRTC) from the ban on night traffic on National Highway 766 passing through the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka.

A meeting was chaired by Transport Minister A K Saseendran and Forest Minister K Raju at a secretariat on Thursday and it was decided to seek the services of Senior Counsel Gopal Subramanian to take up the state's demand when the case comes before the Supreme Court on August 6.

Law Secretary B G Hareendranath was authorised to take appropriate action.

The meeting discussed a proposal of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to Karnataka to overcome the ban on the highway from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to reduce disturbance to wildlife at the national park.

Though the State is yet to receive a copy of the proposal, the sources said the cost-sharing aspect of the 460-crore project with Karnataka and the alternative arrangements to be taken for the movement of vehicles during the period were discussed.

The series of measures include opening flyovers in five sections, each at one km, along the 25-km highway stretch passing through the national park and widening of road to 15 m, a 10-m carriageway for the two-lane highway and 8-feet-high steel wire fencing.

Since 2010, Karnataka has been opposing lifting of the night traffic ban while Kerala has been putting pressure on Karnataka. Although successive CMs B S Yeddyurappa, D V Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar and Siddaramaiah have resisted this move, the Centre continues to put enormous pressure on Karnataka to open the National Highway passing through Bandipur Tiger Reserve, for night traffic.