Assam: Longest flyover in India planned to protect the wildlife at Kaziranga

Kaziranga National Park is all set to get the longest flyover in India, which the centre is planning to construct over National Highway 37 (NH 37), which passes through Kaziranga National Park, in a move to protect wild animals from being hit by vehicles.

At 35 km, the flyover will be the longest in India and will be divided into three segments. As of now, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will be preparing a detailed project report (DPR), and it is expected that a sum of INR 600 crore will be infused in this project. As per the latest reports, work on the DPR is expected to be over within the next two months. Once it’s completed, the processing the tenders will begin and work on the project will start. Referring to this development, Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya said that since the NH-37 is also an animal corridor and used by small and big animals, including elephants and rhinos, the motive behind constructing the flyover is primarily to protect the animals from being hit by vehicles while crossing the highway.

Director of Kaziranga National Park P Sivakumar said the alignment of the flyover was recently prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India. The first segment of the flyover, divided into three segments, will be the lengthiest at 18 km.
After the flyover is ready and open for vehicular traffic, it will be used by those who don’t want to halt at Kaziranga. Moreover, the existing highway will be used by those who would like to visit the park and various resorts near it.