Vikash Sharma

Ensuring a safe passage for elephants near the railway tracks has always remained a major concern owing to mishaps at regular intervals in Odisha. In a bid to project the jumbos, a first-of-its-kind animal overpass will come up over the railway track at Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary in Dhenkanal district.

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) had given its nod for the 100-metre-long animal overpass for the wildlife in December last year. In this regard, Dhenkanal DFO, Prakash Chand Gogineni has said, “The proposed animal overpass will come up near the compartment no-1 inside Kapilash wildlife sanctuary and Joranda station tracks. As there are plans for expansion of the railway infrastructure, it has been decided to construct the animal overpass."

The DFO further informed that the design and site for construction of the animal overpass will be finalised jointly by the Forest and Railway officials. As per condition, the construction work will be executed by the Railways.

“The work for survey and soil testing has been done and the design is likely to be finalised in the next three to four months. It will take two years' time for the completion of the project,” the DFO added.

According to the Forest department, elephant herds mostly cross the railway tracks during movement in elephant corridor areas of Athagarh forest division, Ranabania and Kapilash wildlife sanctuary. Environmentalists say that the animal overpass will play crucial role in protecting the animals from mishaps on tracks.

In view of such necessity, sources said the Odisha government is also planning to install iron barriers near the railway tracks wherever necessary for additional security of the pachyderms.

“It is a welcoming step. The authorities should also identify more zones in Dhenkanal and other districts where such facilities can be made for protecting the elephants,” said environmentalist, Sishir Satpathy.

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