Some stretches or sections in about 100 National Highways are falling in or passing through forest areas declared as Wildlife Sanctuary/National Park or its Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). So, in order to minimize the impact of highway development on wildlife, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has issued instructions to implementing agencies to make all efforts to avoid any road alignment through National Parks or Wildlife Sanctuaries, even if it requires taking a longer route/bypass. In this regard, cautionary signboards and rumble strips would be placed in coordination with Forest Authorities to alert the public and road users and protect animals.
Site-specific mitigation measures are being taken in consultation with Forest Authorities, incorporating one or more of several options as per site requirements like construction of culverts, underpass, overpass, viaduct, tunnel, guard wall, fencing, vegetative barrier, anti-light glare, sound barrier, etc. It is also planned to creatae waterholes, site-specific plantation and landscaping, animal conservation units, rescue operation, anti-poaching unit, watchtower, monitoring, awareness, involvement of locals, construction of post guard, illumination and fencing around the boundary of Protected Area (PA) or its Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) etc., for conservation of wildlife habitat and reduction of human-animal conflict.
