Nandi Hills car ban trial cheers many

Health fads trek, cycle to the top without hindrance

The two-day trial of banning motor vehicles in the morning on Nandi Hills received a thumbs-up from some while others were disappointed that they had to walk or cycle all the way to the top to capture the scenic beauty.

Mohan Kumar, a resident of Yelahanka and an avid cyclist of the group Spectrum Racing, who has been coming here for the past seven years, feels the move will benefit health fads.

He said, “It is an excellent move. It helps cyclists and hikers go without any disturbance.”

Around 300 cyclists and runners had gathered at the foothills near Karahalli Cross by 6.45 am waiting for Chikkaballapur MLA K Sudhakar to flag off the two-day trial.

The local administration and the police provided refreshments at the top and an 108 ambulance was ready for any emergency.

Another enthusiast, Chikkaballapur zilla panchayat president Keshav Reddy, said: “Bengaluru is infamous for its pollution. By implementing this every fortnight, air and noise pollution can be reduced.”

Although there were media reports on banning motor vehicles from 5 am to 9 am, most visitors were not aware of it and ended up climbing the hill on foot. Varsha, a resident of Rajajinagar, who had come with her father and cousins, had to stop the car at the entrance. She said, “We did not know about this. Though my father is 59 years old, he started walking up the road. We took the shortcut, but it was not easy.”

Praveen, a resident of Bommanahalli, who had planned to come with four friends, had a tough time climbing the hill. “We were told that there is a short-cut to the top. We did not want to go back since we had planned it a long time ago. The pathway is very steep. It was a difficult trek.”

Though the ban was announced till 9 am initially, vehicles were not allowed until 10 am. By then, hundreds of visitors had gathered at the entrance and made a mad rush as soon as the road was open.

The MLA said, “This is just a beginning towards making Nandi Hills an eco-tourism spot. I have been in constant touch with Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge to transform it completely into an eco-tourism area by allowing only battery operated vehicles. We are also working to make it an internationally acclaimed tourist destination.”