Kolkata: In a move aimed at safeguarding wildlife and ensuring uninterrupted high-speed travel, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to construct an elevated corridor along a forested stretch of the upcoming Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway.

Incidents of elephants and other wild animals being hit by trains or vehicles are reported from time to time. To reduce such risks, vulnerable stretches are usually designated as animal or elephant corridors, where vehicle speed is restricted and warning signage is installed. However, for this new interstate expressway, authorities have opted for a different approach by keeping the natural movement of wildlife unobstructed through the construction of flyovers.

A 10-kilometre elevated corridor has been planned across forest regions spanning Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts of West Bengal. Vehicles will pass over the forested terrain on a raised structure, significantly lowering the chances of wildlife injuries or fatalities while also eliminating the need for speed restrictions in these sections.

Sources indicated that an earlier proposal had considered nearly 30 kilometres of elevated roadway in the three districts. After a field assessment by experts from the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun, NHAI revised the plan and finalised a 10-kilometre flyover stretch. A high-level meeting in Delhi is expected soon to review the project’s progress.

The greenfield expressway is being developed under Phase II of the Bharatmala project and will link Kolkata and Varanasi via West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Once completed, travel time between the two cities is expected to reduce to around eight to nine hours, compared to the current 13 to 15 hours by road.

As part of the project, an additional bridge over the Ganga is also proposed to strengthen connectivity between Howrah and Kolkata. Land acquisition has begun in several districts, including Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur, Howrah and Hooghly.

According to a senior official, the six-lane expressway will be approximately 23 metres (76 feet) wide. Constructing the road at ground level would have posed challenges, as wildlife would require more time to cross such a wide carriageway, increasing the likelihood of accidents. The elevated corridor has therefore been chosen as a safer and more efficient solution for both animals and motorists. DeshGujarat