Prime Minister's Inauguration of Elevated Corridor in Kaziranga
Prime Minister is set to inaugurate a 34.5-kilometre elevated corridor in Assam's Kaziranga. This infrastructure aims to address animal-vehicle collisions in the national park.
Project Overview
- The corridor is part of a Rs 6,950-crore project to improve connectivity between the national park, Eastern Assam, and Guwahati.
- It will facilitate safer animal movement during floods, a frequent natural phenomenon in the region.
Kaziranga National Park Details
- Kaziranga is renowned for housing the largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses.
- The park spans the Brahmaputra floodplains and is home to 37 mammal species and nearly 500 bird species.
- National Highway 715 forms the southern boundary, with the Karbi Anglong hills situated across it.
Highway Widening and Elevated Corridor
- The Cabinet Committee approved widening an 86.675-km stretch of the highway to four lanes.
- The project includes a 34.5-km elevated section to allow animal movement beneath, linking the park to Karbi Anglong Hills.
- It involves upgrading 30.22 km of existing roads and creating 21 km of greenfield bypasses for better connectivity.
Threats from Increased Human Traffic
- Highway traffic is a significant threat to wildlife, disrupting natural animal movements during floods.
- A study from 2016-2017 recorded 6,036 roadkill incidents on NH-715, with 63.6% during flood periods.
- High vehicle speed is a major factor in roadkills, necessitating speed management and eco-friendly designs.
