Valentine’s Day lockdown at Nandi Hills: Tourist entry banned from 6 AM to 6 PM over safety concerns

Chikkaballapura district administration imposes one-day shutdown at Nandi Hills citing traffic congestion, law and order risks, and public safety on February 14.

In view of serious law and order concerns and public safety risks, the Chikkaballapura District Administration has imposed a complete ban on tourist entry and vehicle movement to Nandi Hills on February 14, coinciding with Valentine’s Day. The restrictions will be in force from 6 am to 6 pm, effectively sealing the popular hill destination for the entire day.

The prohibitory order was issued by Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Prabhu under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, following a request from district police authorities. The move aims to prevent overcrowding, traffic chaos, accidents, and possible law and order disturbances.

Nandi Hills, located close to Bengaluru, usually witnesses heavy tourist footfall on weekends and special occasions. On such days, the location typically attracts 16,000 to 18,000 visitors along with nearly 5,000 vehicles. With Valentine’s Day falling on a Saturday this year, authorities expected the numbers to surge further, potentially touching 15,000 to 20,000 visitors in a single day.

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Officials pointed out that the ghat road leading to Nandi Hills is narrow and winding, making it extremely difficult to manage such high volumes of traffic. Heavy congestion on the hill road could not only cause massive delays but also increase the risk of accidents, particularly on steep and curved stretches.

Apart from traffic-related issues, the district administration expressed concern over the possibility of drunken behaviour, indecent acts, public nuisance, and unsafe activities in restricted and dangerous zones at the hilltop. Managing large crowds in such terrain could lead to serious safety threats and law and order challenges.

To ensure strict enforcement, police personnel will be deployed at key entry points, and legal action will be taken against anyone violating the ban. Authorities stated that the temporary closure is a preventive step to safeguard visitors and maintain public order, urging tourists to cooperate with the restrictions.