Wildlife experts felt that the proposed railway line, and lifting the Bandipur night travel ban, will negatively impact the sensitive ecosystem.
The members of Gandadagudi Foundation staged protest opposing Nanjangud-Nilambur railway line and lifting ban on night traffic in Banidpur at Mysuru on Sunday. (@ravikeerthi22)
Residents and environmentalists in Karnataka, especially in the Old Mysuru region, are vehemently opposing Kerala’s proposal for a 236-km broad-gauge railway line between Nanjangud and Nilambur, touted as the Golden IT Corridor.
The Kerala government is aggressively pushing for the project, aiming to enhance interstate connectivity and save significant travel time and distance.
It would also ease the vehicular traffic congestion on National Highway-766, connecting Kozhikode in Kerala with Kollegal in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district.
A 19.7-km stretch of the highway passes through the Bandipur National Park.
The debate over the proposed railroad has now become heated, with wildlife experts expressing concerns over the potential ecological impact on the Bandipur and Nagarahole ecosystems — both crucial components of the Nilgiri biosphere.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) conducted a detailed survey for the project, which would provide a shorter route from Nilambur in the Malappuram district to Bengaluru. Kerala sanctioned ₹10 crore for the survey.
Wildlife experts and conservationists in Karnataka argued that the proposed railway, along with Kerala’s demand to lift the night road traffic ban through the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, would disrupt animal movements and negatively impact the sensitive ecosystem.
Karnataka’s Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has remained firm against lifting the 9 pm to 6 am night traffic ban.
He claimed ignorance about the railway project’s developments but emphasised that Karnataka was committed to conserving wildlife.
The proposed railway line would start from Nanjangud near Mysuru and traverse through Madhur in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, Sulthan Bathery in the Wayanad district of Kerala, and Devala in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu, before joining the existing railhead at Nilambur, and further stretch to Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram.
The project, deemed technically feasible by the Kerala government, is estimated to cost ₹4,266 crore.
The Planning Commission approved the project cost in 2010, which would provide a potential shortcut of around 70 km from Kerala to Bengaluru.
The proposed rail link is expected to enhance connectivity, especially between Nilambur and other major cities in Kerala.
The railway line issue once again came to the fore following reports of Kerala conducting an aerial survey recently.
The members of the Gandhadagudi Foundation staged a protest opposing the projects in Mysuru on Sunday, 4 February.
Netizens, too, have been opposing the project and have demanded the Karnataka government continue the night traffic ban in Bandipur.
Save Bandipura protest in Mysuru #SaveBandipura#ಬಂಡೀಪುರ_ಉಳಿಸಿ pic.twitter.com/0qB9npoa9w
— ರವಿ ಕೀರ್ತಿ ಗೌಡ (@ravikeerthi22) February 4, 2024
“India has a wildlife area (or forests) largely that are relatively small in size and unconnected. This will not help the wildlife. There will be a diversity impact and indications of the area slowly fading away,” Karnataka’s Wildlife Warden Sandeep Krupakar Gundala told South First.
“The only hope for the conservation of wildlife, especially tigers and elephants, for the next 200 years is the Nilgiris biosphere. Bandipur and Nagarhole are part of it. In India, Nilgiris is very essential. It is the only and last hope,” Gundala said.
“The highway passing through Bandipur allows vehicle movement between 6 am and around 10 pm. During this period, several wildlife crossings are completely cut off,” he pointed out.
“Because of the vehicle movements, animals are unable to cross the highway during the daytime. The railway line and night traffic will turn out to be a disaster, literally cutting off the ecosystem,” he asserted.
He also emphasised that it would hugely impact the animal movements in the forest area.
Citing an example, Gundala said, “The Nilgiris biosphere is rich. It also connects the Eastern Ghats with the Western Ghats. It is a home range for herds of elephants. These herds will have a fixed path for moving from one place to another in the forest.”
“A herd of elephants will have a home range of about 400-500 sq km. For bulls, it will be over 1,000 sq km. Using the existing corridor, a herd can travel from Kodagu to Bandipur and back. They will have their definite range,” he said.
“An elderly elephant in the herd will know the route because it would have travelled through the same route for years. The particular route will be genetically imprinted. If the roads and railway lines are developed through the forest, it will have a severe impact on the ecosystem,” Gundala said.
Opposing the project, wildlife expert Tejus RS said politicians’ commitment should not only be towards the people but also to protect what people depend on.
“We should preserve the existing eco-system for the upcoming generations,” he told South First.
“Let’s not implement these projects. The focus should be on need-based development rather than want-based development. Kerala is well connected to Karnataka. If these projects (the railway line and lifting of the night travel ban) are implemented, who will control the deaths of smaller mammals and reptiles?” he asked.
“The wildlife needs their own space. It is already disturbed. There is ample connectivity between Kerala and Karnataka. The roads are pretty good. Can’t people sacrifice a few hours to conserve the forest and wildlife? Can’t people opt for other modes of transport?” Tejus wondered.
While the people continued to protest, Karnataka’s forest officials claimed that they had neither received intimation from the Central departments about these two projects nor did they have any information about Kerala conducting the aerial survey.
“If Kerala conducted the aerial survey in our state jurisdiction, then it would have come to our notice because it cannot be done without our permission,” a senior forest official told South First, requesting anonymity.
“The Karnataka has not received any proposal or intimation for the above-said projects to date. The demand to lift the night traffic ban in the reserve forest area of Bandipur and Nagarahole, and construction of the new railway line is not new,” the official said.
“This demand is mainly from Kerala and not from Karnataka,” he said.
Khandre said he recently visited the Bandipur Tiger Reserve and took stock of the situation, especially vehicle movement through the forest area.
“We will not agree to lift the ban on night traffic through Bandipur. We are committed to the conservation and preservation of wildlife and forests,” the minister told South First.
He also said that Karnataka has not received any proposal or intimation from the Union government regarding the railway line. Hence, they are unaware of the development of the interstate railway project.
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