Coimbatore: At first, the national highway (NH-181 – Chinthamanipudur – Coonoor) State Highway Department is planning to build a 2.4km firover through Forest Reserve, from Kallar to Hairpin Bend IInd of Mettupalayam – Coonoor Road, to protect wild animals, including elephants.
Madurai-based consulting services COS has roamed to conduct a feasibility study on the structure of RS 200 crore and a detailed project report (DRP) will be prepared, an official told TOI.
“Studies eligible for the covers as wide as 12 meters will begin in Kallar on December 15, the DRP will be submitted to the National Highways Wing before June,” he said.
“It will be designed to be environmentally friendly.” Funds World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature – India has conducted studies on Elephant Corridor since 2007.
Corridor Kallar, Mettupalayam – Coonoor Road busy, used by animals including elephants, leopards, bears and dress.
With more than 8,500 vehicles pass through the stretch every day, the animals are forced to cross the road, risking their lives or find an alternative route through populated areas, resulting in man-animal conflict.
Chief conservator of forests Coimbatore Circle and Field Director Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) Ramasubramanian said the Forestry Department has adopted several measures to protect the corridor.
“We welcome the plans to build flyovers and hope the Ministry of Environment and Forests will soon clear up the project,” he said.
D Babo, landscape coordinator of WWF-India in Coimbatore, said the corridor is an important relationship between the two large elephant habitat Coimbatore, Attapadi, Palakkad-Mannarkad and Silent Valley in the South, and Sathyamangalam, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Erode Forest division in the north.
“Habitat narrow between Bhavanisagar and Kallar, in which the movement of elephants occur along the southeast slope Nilgiris, has several jams.
Among them, the national highway in Kallar is a barrier most critical to the movement of elephants.” “The flyover will ensure movement of animals that are free and safe, especially for species like elephants which migrate long seasonal to food, water, and socialize, “added Boominathan.
In 2014, former Coimbatore Collector Archana Patnaik and Forest Department officials have visited Kallar to discuss plans to build flyovers.
Tamil Nadu: Flyover to facilitate elephant movements
