Guwahati, Oct 22: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has granted alignment approval for the crucial Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, a significant development aimed at enhancing both tourism and wildlife conservation in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
This was disclosed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma following a review meeting in New Delhi which was chaired by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, where they discussed 57 critical National Highway projects.
The Kaziranga Elevated Corridor is a 35-kilometer elevated road that will stretch from Jakhalabandha to Bokakhat along National Highway 37, passing through the Kaziranga National Park. This project is expected to provide a safe passage for wildlife while promoting tourism in the region, mitigating the risks of animal-vehicle collisions, and reducing disturbances to the park’s ecosystem.
The Rs 6,000 crore project has already received approval from the National Board for Wildlife for the use of a significant portion of forest land from Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. This includes 20.4284 hectares from the core zone of the reserve and 364.9851 hectares from the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), comprising both forest and non-forest land. The project is part of the widening and improvement of the existing NH-37 (New NH-715), stretching from Kaliabor to Numaligarh in Assam, transforming the road into a four-lane configuration.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sarma said he participated in a review meeting in New Delhi led by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, where they discussed the development of 1,001 kilometers of highway projects in Assam. The meeting emphasized the timely completion of 57 critical National Highway projects managed by various agencies.
Among the significant projects, Sarma highlighted that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Gohpur-Numaligarh Tunnel under the Brahmaputra River was nearing completion. Additionally, he urged the swift completion of the four-laning of the Baihata Chariali-Tezpur highway stretch.
Sarma also requested Gadkari to initiate the re-tendering process for the stalled Majuli bridge over the Brahmaputra River, which would connect Kamalabari and Nimati Ghat. Construction on the bridge has been halted since early September. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister for Waterways and Ports Sarbananda Sonowal and several MPs from Assam. These developments are part of Assam’s broader infrastructure push, aimed at improving connectivity and supporting regional growth.
