Monday, June 30: Public Entry to Nandi Hills Banned for Four Days Ahead of Karnataka Cabinet Meeting

Come this Monday, June 30 and you won't be able to enter the Nandi Hills in Karnataka for the next four days. This is in preparation for the upcoming Karnataka Cabinet meeting scheduled atop the scenic hills on July 2. The Chikkaballapur district administration has imposed a temporary ban on public access to the popular tourist destination. The restriction will be in place from 6 PM on June 30 ( Monday) to 3 PM on July 3 (Thursday), affecting both Nandi Hills and the nearby Skandagiri Hills.

Deputy Commissioner of Chikkaballapur, P N Ravindra, issued the order, citing logistical and security reasons. "There is only one road to ascend and descend the Nandi Hills, and it will witness significant government vehicular movement during the Cabinet meeting," Ravindra explained. The administration will also be tasked with arranging accommodation, food, and logistics for ministers, officials, and media personnel attending the event.

As part of the preparations, bookings for rooms at the hilltop resort have also been suspended for the duration of the restriction.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and other Cabinet ministers are expected to attend the meeting. Prior to the session, the ministers will likely visit the historic Bhoga Nandeeshvara and Yoga Nandeeshvara temples located in nearby Nandi village.

Government sources indicate that the decision to conduct the Cabinet meeting at Nandi Hills is intended to showcase recent developmental works in the region, and to symbolically bring governance closer to rural and ecologically important areas.

This is not the first instance of a Cabinet meeting being held outside Vidhana Soudha, the state's legislative headquarters in Bengaluru. Former chief ministers J.H. Patel, S.M. Krishna, and R. Gundu Rao had also organised Cabinet meetings at venues beyond the capital city to underline special initiatives and connect with different regions of Karnataka.

Located about 70 kilometers from Bengaluru, Nandi Hills is a much-loved getaway for city residents, especially on weekends when it draws an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 visitors. Weekday footfalls range between 5,000 and 6,000. The temporary ban is expected to affect travel plans of several tourists, especially during the peak monsoon tourism season.

Officials have urged the public to cooperate with the restrictions and plan their visits accordingly. Security has been tightened in the area, and police presence is expected to increase over the next few days to ensure smooth conduct of the Cabinet meeting.