Grand ‘trunk’ road: overpass for elephants at Rajaji park

Dehradun, August 12 : In A unique move, the authorities at Rajaji National Park have undertaken a project to build an overpass above a stretch of railway tracks and a motorable road for the movement of elephants. Once completed, this 1.5-km stretch between Motichur railway crossing to Raiwala in Haridwar district will be the first overpass of its kind in the world. It is being constructed at the directions of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court, in order to protect the corridor through which elephants have been moving traditionally from one part of the park to the other.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shrikant Chandola told The Indian Express, “This overpass is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 100 crore, but neither the state nor the central Government will pay for it. The CEC has agreed to re-direct funds for the purpose.”

Earlier it had been decided to build a flyover to facilitate the movement of elephants through the corridor, but the CEC was of the opinion that this would only take care of the vehicular traffic and the problem pertaining to the railway track that runs through the corridor would remain intact.

The authorities at the park are also holding consultations with the experts at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, for making the overpass vibration-proof. “We are very sensitive to the needs of the elephants. They would definitely feel the vibrations from the rail and road traffic underneath while they cross the overpass. We are trying to ensure that they do not feel such vibrations,” Chandola added.

Meanwhile, the authorities have decided to make additional efforts to popularise the park. For the first time in its history, a logo for the park has been designed and was unveiled on Tuesday to mark its silver jubilee celebrations. In addition, a brochure and a book detailing the ecological diversity at the park have been launched, and it is hoped that this effort will deflect some focus and pressure — off Corbett Park, Uttarakhand’s most prominent wildlife sanctuary.

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