Syllabus : GS– III & V: Infrastructure

Why in the news?

In January 2026, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, a ₹6,950 crore national highway initiative aimed at improving connectivity in Assam while safeguarding the fragile ecosystem of Kaziranga National Park.

What is the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor?

• It is a four-laning project of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of National Highway 715, earlier known as National Highway 37.
  • NH 715, connects Tezpur in Sonitpur district to Eastern Assam forms the southern boundary of Kaziranga, passing through an animal migratory route.
• The project has a total length of about 86 kilometres and is being developed in Engineering, Procurement and Construction mode.
• It was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in October 2025.

Key components of the project

• Elevated wildlife corridor:
  • Around 34–35 kilometres of elevated stretches pass through the Kaziranga landscape.
  • Designed to allow free and uninterrupted movement of wildlife, especially during floods.
• Greenfield bypasses:
  • About 21 kilometres of bypasses around Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat to reduce congestion in towns.
• Upgradation of existing highway:
  • Nearly 30 kilometres of the old highway will be widened and improved.

Why was this corridor needed?

• The existing road was a two-lane highway with poor geometry and heavy traffic.
• During monsoon floods, animals move from Kaziranga towards the Karbi Anglong hills, often crossing the highway.
• This led to frequent human–wildlife conflict and animal fatalities, particularly of rhinoceroses and deer.

Environmental significance

• The corridor reflects an environment-sensitive infrastructure approach, where development is aligned with conservation.
• Reduce human–wildlife conflict
• Elevated structures reduce roadkill, protect animal corridors, and help maintain ecological connectivity between floodplains and highlands (Karbi/mikir hills).
• It supports India’s broader commitment to sustainable development and biodiversity protection.

Economic and social importance

• Improved connectivity:
  • Faster travel between Guwahati, Kaziranga, Numaligarh, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
• Boost to tourism:
  • Better access to Kaziranga strengthens eco-tourism and allied livelihoods.
• Industrial and trade benefits:
  • Enhances connectivity to Numaligarh Refinery and other industrial areas.
• Employment generation:
  • Construction and allied activities create jobs for local youth.

Multi-modal integration

• The corridor links with:
  • Three railway stations (Nagaon, Jakhalabandha, Vishwanath Charli).
  • Three airports (Tezpur, Jorhat, and nearby regional airfields).
• This improves logistics efficiency and passenger movement in Upper Assam.

Key terms explained

• Elevated Wildlife Corridor: A raised road structure that allows animals to move freely underneath without obstruction.
• Engineering, Procurement and Construction mode: A project model where a single contractor is responsible for design, material procurement and construction.
• Human–Wildlife Conflict: Situations where infrastructure or human activity negatively impacts wildlife movement or survival.
• Greenfield Bypass: A new road built on previously unused land to divert traffic away from towns.

One-line wrap

The Kaziranga Elevated Corridor represents a landmark attempt to harmonise economic development, regional connectivity and wildlife conservation in Assam.

Exam Hook 

Question:
Discuss how the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor illustrates the integration of infrastructure development with environmental conservation in ecologically sensitive regions.

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