Meeting today to discuss Bandipur night traffic ban

Kerala government continues to demand the lifting of night traffic ban on NH 212 and NH 67 passing through Bandipur Tiger Reserve. A meeting of officials of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala forest departments and the National Highways Authority of India is scheduled for Tuesday at Aranya Bhavan, the Karnataka forest department's head office here.

Officials from transport departments of the three states will be present, besides  Vaibhav C Mathur, assistant inspector general, National Tiger Conservation Authority.

A ban on night traffic was imposed by Karnataka High Court on March 9, 2010. Upon a request by Kerala government and MPs from Wayanad and Kozhikode, the high court had directed the Karnataka government to repair and develop an alternate road passing through Hunsur- Thithimatti- Gonikoppa- Kutta, to be used at night. The Karnataka government executed the work and improved the road at a cost of Rs 73 crore.

In the past, the Kerala government has held five meetings with four chief ministers of Karnataka B S Yeddyurappa, D V Sadananda Gowda, Jagadeesh Shettar and Siddaramaiah. All have categorically refused permission.