Will the Elevated corridor prove a boon or bane for rhinos in Assam
Kaliabor (Assam) | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, a landmark National Highway initiative aimed at boosting regional connectivity while safeguarding Kaziranga — India’s iconic rhino’s bastion and one of the country’s most celebrated national parks.
Stretching 86 km, the project makes Kaziranga the first national park in India to get four-lane highway connectivity along with a dedicated elevated wildlife corridor.
It includes a 35-km elevated stretch passing through the park, a 21-km bypass section and 30 km of NH-715 widened from two to four lanes.
The design ensures free movement of wildlife, significantly reducing roadkills and human-animal conflict.
Kaziranga is globally renowned for sheltering the largest population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
The latest census pegs the rhino population at around 2,613, reflecting steady growth over the years due to sustained anti-poaching drives and habitat protection.
Conservationists see this as one of India’s biggest wildlife success stories.
Tourism has also surged at the park. During the last season, Kaziranga recorded over four lakh visitors, including nearly 18,000 foreign tourists, placing it among the most visited wildlife destinations in the country.
The rising footfall has strengthened the local economy, generating employment for guides, jeep operators, homestays and small businesses.
Officials said the elevated corridor strikes a rare balance between development and conservation, ensuring smooth traffic flow without disturbing wildlife corridors.
The project is expected to improve connectivity between Assam and neighbouring states while reinforcing Kaziranga’s status as a global conservation model.
The initiative reflects the Centre’s push for infrastructure development that respects ecology, especially in fragile wildlife zones where unchecked construction can pose serious risks to biodiversity.
Will this corridor become a boon or bane for rhinos, only time will tell.