The state forest department will send a proposal to the Union ministry of road transport and highways for three flyovers along the stretches of two highways to avert the collision of wild animals, especially elephants, with vehicles.
The proposal, to be forwarded to the Centre via the state government, has been drawn up because a number of accidents have been reported in north Bengal where wild animals have died after being hit by vehicles.
“We have identified three stretches, one in the Terai and two others in the Dooars, which are elephant-crossing zones. That is why it has been decided to send a proposal to the Centre so that flyovers are built on these stretches. Animals can safely cross the road while vehicles move on flyovers,” said a source in the forest department.
According to him, one of the stretches identified is on Asian Highway 2 between Bagdogra and Naxalbari of Siliguri subdivision in Darjeeling district. The second is near Lataguri on NH31 on the fringes of Gorumara National Park in Jalpaiguri. The third is on Asian Highway 48 near Madarihat close to Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar district.
Divisional forest officers (DFOs) concerned have been asked to provide details to the department to be added with the proposal to substantiate the need for flyovers, the source said. These include forest villages and tea gardens, elephant population and the intensity of vehicles.
The department has also sought from Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) two railway overpasses in two stretches of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary so that elephants safely cross the stretches.
Around 80 elephants have died on tracks in the past 17 years when the stretch was converted to broad gauge from metre gauge.
The sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Siliguri and stretches on till Sevoke, 25km away. The Dooars rail tracks that connects Siliguri Junction with Alipurduar Junction passes through this sanctuary.
“We had submitted the proposal to the NFR which was sent to the National Board for Wildlife in due course for approval. The board recently approved the project and we hope it will be taken up soon,” said a forest officer. The elevated railway tracks, sources said, will come up in two stretches between Gulma and Sevoke stations at two ends of the sanctuary.