Elephant corridor in Odisha: 1-km-long flyover to be built

Bhubaneswar: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will build a one-kilometre-long flyover exclusively for elephants.

This elephant corridor will help the jumbos to cross the busy highway without any hinderance in Odisha.

“The flyover for elephants will come up between Rairakhol and Sambalpur. Vehicular traffic will move on the flyover while elephants will take their traditional path underneath the structure,” said Ram Prasad Panda, Chief General Manager, NHAI, Odisha.

It is noteworthy that, in September last year, there was much discussion relating to the protection of elephants in various district of Odisha. There are around 14 elephant corridors all over Odisha.

Out of the 14 elephant corridors, 2 of them are in Karo-Karampada and the other is in Telkoi–Pallahara. The corridors had been established back in the year 2011.

According to law, elephant corridors are narrow strips of land that connect two large habitats of elephants. Elephant corridors are crucial to reduce animal fatalities due to accidents and other reasons. So fragmentation of forests makes it all the more important to preserve migratory corridors. 

The Karo-Karampada and Telkoi–Pallahara corridors are being destroyed and encroached upon.

Expressing concern over the regular encroachment of the elephant corridors, the National Green Tribunal has sought a report from the Odisha government. The tribunal has also expressed its concern over the matter.

Reportedly, the second flyover for elephants, which will be 532-metre-long, has been proposed between Pallahara and Keonjhar.