Rudrapur, March 7 -- Authorities of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) have imposed a ban on night traffic on the Khatima-Madhotanda road in compliance with directions issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to minimise disturbance to wildlife. Officials said the road passes through the tiger reserve, and vehicular movement will not be allowed on the stretch during night hours. Around seven to eight kilometres of the road fall within Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. Confirming the move, Rajendra Manral, ranger of Surai forest range under the Terai-East forest division, said PTR authorities have already erected a barrier on the Uttar Pradesh side. "PTR authorities have banned night traffic on the Khatima-Madhotanda road. The forest department of Uttar Pradesh has installed a barrier in the reserve area, and we are also considering implementing a similar restriction from our side," he said. Under the NTCA's guidelines, night traffic has been restricted on national highways, state highways and district roads passing through wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves, with only emergency services permitted during night hours. The approximately 30-km stretch between Jhankaiya in Khatima, Udham Singh Nagar, and Madhotanda in Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh runs close to the Indo-Nepal border and passes through the tiger reserve. While around seven to eight kilometres fall in Uttarakhand, the remaining portion lies in the Mahof range of PTR in Pilibhit district. Officials said traffic will remain banned from 6 pm to 6 am daily. htc...