On April 6, 2025, over 2,000 individuals—including environmentalists, farmers, and local villagers—participated in the ‘Bandipur Chalo’ padayatra to protest the proposed lifting of the night traffic ban through Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The march commenced at the Primary Health Centre in Kaggala Hundi, Gundlupet taluk, Chamarajanagar district, and concluded at the Maddur check-post, where a memorandum was submitted to Assistant Conservator of Forests Naveen Kumar.
The Supreme Court imposed the night traffic ban from 9 PM to 6 AM on National Highways NH-181 (Mysuru-Ooty Road) and NH-766 (Kollegal-Kozhikode) to reduce wildlife fatalities due to roadkill. Since its enforcement, roadkill incidents have decreased by 90%, with only nine cases reported between 2022 and 2024.
Recent attempts by neighboring Kerala to lift the ban have raised concerns among environmentalists. They warn that removing the restriction could lead to increased illegal activities such as poaching and smuggling, and heighten the risk of human-animal conflicts in adjacent forest areas.
The ‘Bandipur Chalo’ campaign underscores the community’s commitment to preserving the ecological balance of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and maintaining the night traffic ban to protect its diverse wildlife.
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