In a major relief to the conservation efforts, the Union Government dumped the proposal to build elevated corridor in the Bandipur National Park and tiger reserve which falls under the Nilgiri bio sphere. The Karnataka Government captained by HD Kumaraaswamy has also opposed building of any such corridor in the Tiger reserve to facilitate night travel inside the corridor.
While answering in Rajya Sabha to unstarred question Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State of environment, forest and climate change, said the State Government has also opposed any construction or opening up of the road during night hours, which passes through Bandipur Tiger Reserve. He categorically said there is no such proposal to build elevated corridor in the Bandipur Tiger reserve. He said” In fact, we have suggested strengthening of the alternative route passing through Thithimathi-Gonikoppa-Kutta." He was responding to MP Veerendra Kumar, a Rajya Sabha member, from Kerala who asked about the Ministry's stand on the corridor proposal and its status.
Kerala has been insisting to open the night travel in the tiger reserve to connect Kerala, but environmentalists and government here had opposed any such proposal stating that it would affect the flora and fauna. According to Karnataka forest department statistics the night ban has reduced the accidental death of wild animals. The existing traffic ban has been in effect since 2009 when the Karnataka High Court banned traffic flow after dark while hearing a case pertaining to roadkills, where at least 215 animals were being run over between 2004 and 2007.
The JD(S)- Congress coalition Government in Karnataka has opposed construction of the road or lifting of the nine-hour night traffic ban on NH-212, that passes through Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The proposal to build four elevated corridors, each 1-km long, on National Highway 766 by the National Highway Authority of India as part of the Bharatmala project had united activists under the banner of 'Save Bandipur'.