Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the AICC general secretary and newly elected MP, recently visited Wayanad, Kerala, where she promised to help lift the ban on night traffic on the highway passing through the Bandipur tiger reserve. This highway connects parts of Karnataka and Kerala, and local drivers have been facing a nine-hour traffic ban that makes travel difficult.
In preparation for the upcoming bypolls on November 13, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, also spoke to Wayanad voters, saying that his government would look into this important issue. He mentioned that discussions had already taken place with Kerala’s Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, about easing the restrictions. He assured the voters that officials from both states would meet to talk about the situation after the bypoll.
Residents from all seven assembly segments in Wayanad are urging for the ban to be lifted, as it would help many people. The two taluks in Wayanad, Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady, are linked to Karnataka’s Bandipur and Kakanakote forests. Currently, night traffic isn’t allowed in these areas.
The Karnataka government put this traffic ban in place ten years ago to protect wildlife, and it was backed by the high court. Officials say that about 7,000 vehicles use these highways during the day. They believe lifting the ban could harm local animals, with some even suggesting extending the ban to 12 hours starting at 6 PM.
Rahul Gandhi, who was also an MP for Wayanad, had previously supported local demands to end the night ban. His supporters even went on a hunger strike for this cause. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has stated that the ban is creating problems for people living in Wayanad and nearby areas. People in Wayanad have protested by marching to the Karnataka border, asking for the ban to be lifted. So far, Karnataka hasn’t shown much interest in changing the rules.
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