The Congress government in Karnataka has withdrawn the counter affidavit submitted by its forest department, which stated that the NH-766 stretch passing through Bandipur Tiger Reserve could be permanently closed once the proposed alternative road (SH-88) was completed. The affidavit had caused political discomfort for Congress in Wayanad, as MP Priyanka Gandhi had assured during her campaign that she would work towards lifting the existing night traffic ban on the route.
In its counter affidavit, Prabhakaran S, the Director of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, said that
Karnataka had already spent Rs 75 crore on repairing the alternative road, which is being extensively used at night. "We developed this alternative road as an elevated road because it passes along the border of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. Once the elevated road is completed, we can permanently close the existing NH-766 that passes through the core of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, allowing only emergency vehicles and minimal local traffic," he stated. The counter was filed in the Supreme Court on March 21,
The move triggered strong reactions from the CPI(M), which accused Priyanka Gandhi and the Congress of taking a "duplicitous" stance on the issue. The party called it a direct challenge to the people of Wayanad. Amid the backlash, the Karnataka government filed an application requesting the withdrawal of the affidavit, citing "certain discrepancies" that had inadvertently crept in. It also sought permission to file a revised affidavit.
"During the election campaign, Congress leader Priyanka, who was elected as MP, had promised to lift the night traffic ban after holding talks with the Karnataka government. The affidavit will be withdrawn immediately," said Sultan Bathery municipal chairman TK Ramesh.
According to a Times of India report, TM Rasheed, convener of the Nilgiri Wayanad National Highways and Railway Action Committee, expressed concerns over the impact of closing NH-766. "Shutting down NH-766 will severely affect not only Wayanad but also the entire state. The Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the night traffic ban cannot be indefinite and that an elevated highway was not feasible," he said. "We proposed constructing an underground tunnel as a sustainable solution to the nighttime traffic issue," he added.