The ₹4,126-crore four-lane highway, designated as National Highway-275, will serve as an alternative to the existing two-lane Mysuru-Madikeri Road.
Published Nov 26, 2025 | 5:29 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 26, 2025 | 5:29 PM
Synopsis: The NHAI, which will execute the work in four stages, would require approximately 54 hectares in the eco-sensitive zone of Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary and the buffer zone of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
Environmentalists are up in arms after the State Wildlife Board’s Standing Committee approved the proposals for constructing a 100-km road connecting Kushalanagar with Mysuru.
This project is expected to cut travel time between Bengaluru and Kushalnagar from 5 hours to 2.5 hours.
The NHAI, which will execute the work in four stages, would require approximately 54 hectares in the eco-sensitive zone of Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary and the buffer zone of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve.
Another proposal cleared pertained to the PWD widening the existing road to the Sharavathi Lion Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary for the benefit of dwellers inside the patch.
Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre cleared the two proposals at a recent meeting. The clearance of a National Board for Wildlife’s Standing Committee is mandatory as the project touches wildlife sanctuaries and a tiger reserve.
According to details, the ₹4,126-crore four-lane highway, designated as National Highway-275, will serve as an alternative to the existing two-lane Mysuru-Madikeri Road.
Colonel CP Muthanna (Retd) the Chair, Kodagu Model Forest Trust, Founder and Honarary Secretary, Environment and Health Foundation (India) & Former President, Coorg Wildlife Society told South First that they were awaiting the Detailed Project Report (DPR) before raising questions. The high court has directed the authorities to share the DPR.
“The State Wildlife Board is supposed to protect wildlife, and they are not there to give clearances. They are falling to vested interests,” he said.
He claimed that the sitting MP, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, must be appraised of the real motive behind the approval. He added that the people do not need such so-called developments.
“The thousands of crores that are wasted for unwanted and dangerous projects, which will damage the catchment of the River Cauvery and increase human-animal conflict, can be diverted for better uses that will manage human-wildlife conflict, acquire corridors and also improve the coffee and pepper economy. Do something for the good of the land and its people,” he suggested.
“It is not about somebody reaching half an hour early to Madikeri or going beyond. They are doing everlasting damage. Comfort comes last, first is the necessity. The absolute necessity now is to save the Western Ghats which is the catchment of the River Cauvery that provides water to almost 8 crore people and sustains the economy and agriculture,” the army veteran said.
He claimed that if the government went ahead with the project, a large number of environmentalists, along with concerned citizens, will launch a protest movement to stop the work that will destroy parts of the Western ghats.
Joseph Hoover, an independent journalist and wildlife activist told South First that the wildlife board’s mandate was to protect forests.
“We already have man-animal conflict escalating. Let them do whatever they want to do up to the forest, but do not touch the forest area,” he opined.
He reminded Karnataka of the recent Supreme Court ruling that directed state governments to notify eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) around all tiger reserves, including buffer and fringe areas, not less than one kilometre from their outer boundaries, and formulate a policy to declare the entire tiger reserve as silence zone.
“We direct the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) as well as the various state governments to take necessary steps by notifying rules and/or by issuing memorandums or circulars for implementing the directions and recommendations issued hereinabove within a period of six months from the date of this judgment,” the Supreme Court had said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
