THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite Karnataka's resistance, Rs 250-crore elevated highway on the 27-km stretch between Muthanga–Gundlupet could be a reality. Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari showed a keen interest in the project during a meeting with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday. The night travel ban had hit thousands of motorists in the northern Kerala districts who study or work in Bengaluru
Mr Vijayan and PWD officials had with them four sets of reports prepared by National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) on the elevated highway. A meeting at the Karnataka forest headquarters with Kerala forest and transport officials on March 6 had seen heated exchanges with Karnataka-based environmentalists.
Kerala had appointed a high-power team to chalk out a strategy to solve the issue, which attended the meeting. The next day, Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change inspected the forest stretch. A top official said the most significant challenge before the government was to convince Karnataka forest officials. “There is no option to close the existing highway. Karnataka suggests an alternative highway between Kutta and Gonikoppal constructed at Rs 75 crore," he told DC.
"In fact, Karnataka does not lose forest area whereas Kerala stands to lose 12 km – 18 km of forests.” The night travel ban along the Bandipur-Mudumalai and Bandipur-Sultan Bathery Road was imposed on June 3, 2009, by Manoj Kumar Meena, the then Chamarajanagar district collector through NH 212 (Gundlupet-Sulthan Bathery Road) and NH 67 (Gundlupet-Ooty Road), both passing through the Bandipur sanctuary.
The vehicular movement was banned from 10 pm to 6 am for protecting the wildlife from speeding vehicles and both are firm on their respective stands. The Supreme Court will be hearing the case on April 10. Already the expert committee has submitted a report before the Supreme Court. However, a decision is likely only after the Karnataka Assembly elections slated for May 12, considering the new government's stand.
