Kaziranga Elevated Corridor: Animals Get Safe Passage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate a 34.5-kilometer elevated corridor in Assam's Kaziranga National Park this Sunday. This significant Rs 6,950-crore infrastructure project is anticipated to offer a lasting solution to the escalating issue of wildlife fatalities caused by vehicular traffic within the national park. The elevated structure aims to facilitate safer movement for animals across the highway, which currently disrupts their natural migration patterns, especially during the flood season.

The Kaziranga National Park, renowned for its substantial population of one-horned rhinoceroses and diverse wildlife, is bisected by National Highway 715. This vital roadway poses a major threat, with a previous study in 2022 recording over 6,000 animal roadkills between October 2016 and September 2017. The elevated corridor will allow animals to cross from the park to the Karbi Anglong Hills, mitigating the risks associated with increasing human traffic.

Forest officials and wildlife experts view this project as a crucial step in balancing development with conservation efforts. While construction activities raise some concerns, proponents like Dr. Rathin Barman of Wildlife Trust of India believe that with careful implementation, the elevated corridor can provide a permanent solution. This initiative seeks to ensure the safe coexistence of wildlife and the vital transportation link connecting Eastern Assam to Guwahati.