Infrastructure push: Cabinet approves NH-715 widening to 4 lanes; Kaliabor-Numaligarh stretch to get wildlife-friendly measures

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the widening of the 85.675 km Kaliabor-Numaligarh section of NH-715 in Assam into a four-lane highway at a total capital cost of Rs 6,957 crore, according to an official statement. The project will be executed on engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode.The upgrade aims to improve connectivity across Assam by integrating the stretch with NH-127, NH-129, and state highway SH-35, linking key economic, social, and logistics hubs in the region, PTI reported.Currently, the highway has a two-lane configuration and passes through densely populated areas including Jakhlabandha in Nagaon and Bokakhat in Golaghat. A significant portion of the existing route either traverses or runs along the southern boundary of the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), with a restricted right of way of 16-32 metres and suboptimal geometrics.The project includes wildlife-friendly measures along the KNP section. During monsoon, flooding inside the park forces wildlife to move towards the elevated Karbi-Anglong hills, crossing the existing highway, which, coupled with heavy traffic, frequently results in accidents and deaths of animals.The Cabinet’s decision follows efforts to enhance road safety, reduce travel time, and improve economic activity along this critical corridor in Assam.