Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway and sanctuaries/Tiger reserves
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Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway and sanctuaries/Tiger reserves
Subject: Environment
Context: It is being built as the fastest highway in India designed for a top speed of 150 kmph.
Concept:
- The focus is on co-existence, with five “wildlife bridges” and a network of underpasses being built.
- MSRDC, that is building the highway, joined forces with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to engineer safe wildlife crossings.
- It will cut across three sanctuaries Tansa (Thane), Katepurna (Akola-Washim border) and Karanja-Sohol (Washim) — and 35 wildlife focus areas (WFAs).
- This stretch of the highway is located in the middle of a functional corridor between the Bor Tiger Reserve and the Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary. Besides tigers, the area is also home to the nilgai, sambar, chinkara, wild boar, Indian hare, porcupine, striped hyena and golden jackal.
- Fragmentation of such patches can lead to destruction of habitat, and also affect the animal density and movement.
- To overcome this fragmentation “Wildlife bridges” or overpasses for animal pathway is being considered which is new for India which focused on underpasses so far.