Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted the Bhoomi Pujan for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project in Assam on January 18, marking a significant infrastructure initiative designed to promote safe wildlife movement and enhance regional connectivity. This ambitious 86-kilometer project features a 35-kilometer elevated wildlife corridor traversing Kaziranga National Park, a 21-kilometer bypass section, and the widening of 30 kilometers of the existing NH-715 (previously NH-37) from two to four lanes. The project aims to protect the park’s rich biodiversity while improving road safety and fostering ecotourism.
Officials report that the ₹6,957-crore project is expected to decrease accidents on NH-37 and bolster connectivity between Central and Upper Assam. It includes the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-37 and approximately 34.45 kilometers of the elevated corridor, with bypasses at Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat. The design adheres to Supreme Court directives and best practices recommended by the Wildlife Institute of India, incorporating dedicated areas beneath the elevated corridor to facilitate safe animal crossings from the park to the Karbi Anglong Hills, especially during the flood season.
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will oversee the implementation of this flagship project under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, with construction slated for completion within 36 months. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had previously approved the four-laning of the 86.675-kilometer stretch alongside the 34.5-kilometer elevated corridor.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi expressed his anticipation of being in Kaliabor for the Bhoomi Poojan, emphasizing that the 35-kilometer elevated corridor will significantly aid in safeguarding wildlife during monsoon seasons. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded, calling the elevated corridor a landmark advancement for wildlife protection while simultaneously enhancing regional connectivity.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve is world-renowned for its biodiversity. It boasts the largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses globally, alongside substantial populations of tigers, elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer, all thriving in the expansive Brahmaputra floodplains characterized by rich grasslands, forests, and wetlands
