The National Board for Wildlife has granted approval for the construction of a 35 km elevated road over nine crucial wildlife corridors in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. These corridors, vital for animal movement during heavy floods, are now at the center of a controversial project with an uncertain future.
The ambitious Rs. 60 billion elevated road project, planned along an existing arterial highway skirting the southern boundary of Kaziranga?s core area, has been in the pipeline for years. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is overseeing the construction of a 150 km road that will connect Kaliabor to Tezpur, Tezpur to Gohpur, and from Gohpur to Numaligarh via an underwater tunnel.
Upon completion, this project aims to provide a direct route to Numaligarh and Upper Assam, bypassing the wildlife corridors between Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat. The proposed plan includes three elevated roads in the corridor between Burapahar and Bokakhat, crossing nine animal corridors.
However, the project's impact on Kaziranga's wildlife and environment has raised concerns, leaving its future hanging in the balance.
