Assam: Govt okays widening of section of NH-715 to 4 lanes; to cost Rs 6.9K cr

NEW DELHI: Aimed astatine eliminating men, conveyance and carnal struggle successful Kaziranga National Park (KNP), the Cabinet Wednesday approved widening and betterment of 86-km Kalibor-Numaligarh conception of NH-715 successful Assam, including 3 elevated sections of 34.5 km done the nationalist park.The Rs 6,957 crore task volition beryllium afloat funded by govt. Once the elevated conception is built, the existing two-lane road passing done the KNP volition beryllium abandoned. The existing roadworthy volition beryllium portion of the nationalist park, thereby ensuring unhindered question of animals.Sharing the Cabinet determination with reporters, I&B curate Ashwini Vaishnaw said the task volition decongest the existing corridor, amended safety, and indispensable provisions person been made successful consultation with entities, including National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India to forestall immoderate harm to animals.

Terming it arsenic a historical determination for Assam and the northeast successful a station connected X, PM Modi said, “The Cabinet determination connected widening and upgradation of the Kalibor–Numaligarh conception of NH-715, including an elevated corridor with wildlife-friendly measures successful the Kaziranga stretch, volition boost improvement arsenic good arsenic guarantee carnal safety. Tourism to Kaziranga volition person a large boost.”Sources said the program to grow the roadworthy and gathering elevated agelong had been successful works since 2016, but it gained momentum aft NHAI took up the agelong successful 2023.

Govt said a large portion of the existing road passes either done the nationalist parkland oregon on the confederate bound of the parkland having lone 16 to 32 metres of close of way. “During monsoons, the country wrong the parkland gets flooded starring to the question of the wildlife from the parkland towards the elevated Karbi-Anglong Hills by crossing the existing highway. The dense round-the-clock postulation connected the road results successful predominant accidents and deaths of chaotic animals,” it added.