Plan to restore night traffic in park

While environmentalists are opposed to throwing open the National Highway Mysore and Ooty passing through the Bandipur reserve forest in Chamarajanagar district for night traffic, the Union Ministry of Surface Transport is reported to have directed the State National Highways to take appropriate legal steps to restore night traffic on the Gundlupet-Ooty and Gundlupet-Wynad sections of National Highways.

However, the issue is before the Karnataka High Court as it has stayed the Chamarajanagar Deputy Commissioner’s order revoking his earlier order banning movement of vehicles in the night through the protected forest, issued in June 2009. A recent picture shows a wild elephant crossing the highway in Bandipur, while a tourist vehicle is passing through during day time, posing danger to wild animals in the game sanctuary.