PM inaugurates wildlife-friendly NH projects in Chhattisgarh

Prime Minister inaugurated three national highway projects as part of the Raipur-Visakhapatnam corridor. The projects, which include a six-lane greenfield expressway, prioritize the inclusion of wildlife in road infrastructure planning. The Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary area alone features 27 animal passes and 17 monkey canopies to facilitate seamless wildlife movement.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) emphasized the importance of minimizing the impact of highway development on wildlife habitats. The PMO highlighted the planned construction of a 2.8 km long, six-lane tunnel to ensure the safe passage of wildlife. This approach aligns with the routine practice of developing dedicated infrastructure for wildlife and their habitats during highway projects in India.

Furthermore, the statement mentioned two notable examples. The upcoming Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor will boast Asia's largest wildlife elevated corridor, spanning an impressive 12 km to enable unrestricted wildlife movement. Another example is the Amritsar-Jamnagar Economic Corridor's six-lane greenfield expressway section in Rajasthan. Built at a cost of approximately Rs 11,125 crore, this 500 km section will not only reduce travel time and improve connectivity between cities and industrial corridors but also foster tourism and economic development along its route.