Supreme Court Urges Completion of Elevated Corridor at Kaziranga National Park at the Earliest.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday emphasized the urgency of completing the proposed 34-kilometre elevated corridor at Kaziranga National Park, a wildlife-friendly infrastructure project aimed at safeguarding the park's ecosystem. The bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan, called for full cooperation from all stakeholders to expedite the project’s completion.

During the hearing, the Assam government informed the court that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) are currently working on the detailed project report for the elevated corridor. The state also confirmed that the project has been prioritized as category one by MoRTH.

The court acknowledged that the elevated corridor would help separate the two parts of the Kaziranga sanctuary, ensuring free movement of wildlife, including the famous one-horned rhinoceros, between them. The bench expressed hope that the NHAI would complete the project as soon as possible, and called for full support from other stakeholders involved.

The court’s remarks came during proceedings related to Kaziranga National Park, with the state of Assam and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) filing affidavits detailing progress. According to Assam's affidavit, the National Board for Wildlife has approved the diversion of approximately 20 hectares of forest land for the project.

The bench also noted that mining activities near the southern border of the park have been halted, as per the KAAC's affidavit, addressing concerns over illegal mining.

In November 2023, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an allocation of ₹5,500 crore for the elevated expressway project, which will feature wildlife-friendly infrastructure, including tunnels for animal passage. The 34.28 km four-lane road, running along NH-715, will be designed in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India and aims to minimize human-wildlife conflict while enhancing conservation efforts.

Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including tigers, elephants, leopards, and swamp deer, in addition to the iconic one-horned rhinoceros.

ET