Assam: Rs 6,000 Crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor's Tender To Be Issued Soon

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday that the tender process for the highly anticipated 38-km elevated corridor in Kaziranga National Park is expected to commence within the next four to five months.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during the 12th International Tourism Mart (ITM), Sarma revealed that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has nearly completed the preliminary groundwork for the project.

The elevated corridor, a four-lane highway along NH-715, was approved by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in November 2022.

Estimated to cost Rs 6,000 crore, the project aims to mitigate the challenges faced by wildlife in the region, particularly during the monsoon season when animals migrate across the highway to escape flooding in the park.

"The alignment has been sanctioned, and the proposal will now move to the Union Cabinet for final approval. I believe the tender will be issued within the next 4-5 months," Sarma stated, reports Financial Express.

The initiative has been a focal point for the Assam government since Sarma assumed office in 2021, as the park's annual inundation by the Brahmaputra River highlights the pressing need for a sustainable solution to wildlife migration. Sarma also highlighted Assam’s significant strides in curbing rhino poaching. "Before 2014, rhino poaching incidents were rampant.

Today, we have almost eliminated the problem, with incidents reduced to zero or occasionally just one. Many have sacrificed their lives to protect wildlife in Assam, an effort unmatched elsewhere in India," he added.

The elevated corridor, once completed, is expected to bolster wildlife conservation efforts and serve as a vital link between Kaziranga National Park and the Karbi Anglong district, offering hope for better co-existence between human infrastructure and nature.