A senior Telangana Forest official said the building cost Rs 300 crore to build and work was already underway.
Posted Date – 12:13 AM, Wed – 23 November 22
Hyderabad: Telangana’s first flyover ecological bridge will be built on the Mancherial – Chandrapur route on National Highway 63, which will facilitate the easy and safe movement of wild animals.
The purpose of building the ecological bridge is to enhance wildlife connectivity that may be interrupted by traffic on highways in forested areas. Unlike traditional underpasses built in forested areas, the ecological bridge near Wanji is an overpass structure. Wildlife will pass the structure and vehicles will pass under the bridge, which will help the animals (especially tigers) move smoothly while avoiding them being hit by speeding vehicles. The Mancherial – Chandrapur route in the Kaghaznagar forest is an ecologically sensitive area as tigers usually pass through this route during their migration from Maharashtra to Telangana.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is constructing a flyover approximately 1 km long. A senior Telangana Forest official said the building cost Rs 300 crore to build and work was already underway.
“Based on the progress of the works, the structure should be ready in about six months,” the official said. While NHAI is working on civil works, the Forestry Department is coordinating structural design, location determination, ecological aspects, and project execution. The structure was constructed in accordance with the guidelines of the Indian Wildlife Research Institute. During the construction process, all environmental protection measures were followed, the official said.
Regarding the reason for the construction of the overpass, the official said that under normal circumstances, wild animals are reluctant to pass through the underpass at night. This can be due to lack of space or light, or sometimes because the channel is filled with rainwater.
Instead, flyovers are built in such a way that wildlife can easily and safely cross the road. The official added that there will be a lot of greenery on both sides leading to the bridge and it will not look like a traditional bridge.
