Time Relaxation at Bandipur Forest Border

Problem

A road may close at 9 PM. But life in Wayanad doesn’t.A family rushing to be with a loved one. A student returning home from Bengaluru. A patient travelling for treatment. A parent trying to reach their child. A family trying to catch a flight. A tourist looking forward to a weekend in Wayanad.For many people, the road through Muthanga and Bandipur is more than a stretch of highway. It connects them to their families, education, work, healthcare, businesses and opportunities beyond the district.Yet every night, when regular traffic is restricted on NH 766 from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM, thousands of people who depend on this connection must plan their lives around the closure. A delayed departure, an unexpected traffic block or a late flight can mean missing the gate and facing a long wait or a longer journey home.This affects Wayanad and neighbouring regions in many ways.For families and everyday travellers, it means less time with loved ones and difficult decisions about when and how to travel. People working or studying in Mysuru and Bengaluru often have limited time to come home. A few extra hours in the evening could make a meaningful difference to their journeys.For patients and their families, access to timely medical care is a deeply personal concern. Certain emergency vehicles are permitted during the restriction, but patients and accompanying family members can still face difficult travel arrangements, especially when they need specialised care outside the district. Families should have clear and dependable arrangements when medical needs cannot wait.For tourism, the effect reaches far beyond resorts and hotels. Homestays, restaurants, local shops, drivers, guides, farmers, artisans and many others depend on visitors coming to Wayanad. When travel plans become more difficult, it can affect the people and small businesses whose livelihoods depend on this sector.For businesses, farmers and workers, road connectivity matters every day. Moving goods, meeting customers, making deliveries and travelling for work all depend on reliable access between Wayanad and neighbouring regions.For students, job seekers and families travelling to airports, a missed connection can mean more than inconvenience. It can mean extra expense, time away from home or a missed opportunity.This is about Wayanad’s connection to its neighbours and its future. Better connectivity can support livelihoods, encourage visitors and give people more flexibility in their daily lives.At the same time, we recognise that the road passes through an ecologically sensitive forest and that the existing restriction was introduced to protect wildlife. Any change must be considered responsibly, with wildlife conservation and road safety at its heart.

Proposed Solution

The Kerala Chief Minister has announced discussions with the Karnataka Chief Minister on the night traffic restriction through Bandipur. We welcome this step and urge both governments to consider the difficulties faced every day by the people who depend on NH 766.A permanent solution—whether a change to the existing restriction or an alternative route, tunnel or flyover—may take years to decide and implement. Until then, Wayanad and its neighbouring regions need relief.We request the Governments of Kerala and Karnataka, the Government of India and the relevant authorities to consider an interim relaxation: keep the road open until 11:00 PM and reopen it at 5:00 AM, until a long-term solution is implemented.We also request clear and dependable arrangements for medical emergencies during restricted hours.Any relaxation must be considered in accordance with applicable court directions, scientific assessment and appropriate wildlife and road safety safeguards. We respect the need to protect this forest and its wildlife while addressing the needs of the people who rely on this road.Wayanad should not have to wait years for relief while a permanent solution is being planned.

Decision Makers

• V D Satheeshan
• D K Shivakumar
• Priyanka Gandhi
• T Siddique