The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, October 1, approved the widening of the Kalibor–Numaligarh section of National Highway (NH)-715 into a four-lane highway. The project, to be executed in the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode, will cover a total length of 85.675 km at an estimated cost of Rs 6,957 crore.
The project will include wildlife-friendly measures along the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) stretch in Assam, aiming to reduce the impact on the park’s rich biodiversity. The Kalibor–Numaligarh section, previously part of NH-37, is currently a two-lane road passing through densely populated areas such as Jakhlabandha in Nagaon and Bokakhat in Golaghat, with a significant portion running either through or along the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park.
During the monsoon, flooding in the park forces animals to move toward the elevated Karbi Anglong Hills, often crossing the existing highway. The heavy, round-the-clock traffic on this stretch frequently leads to accidents, resulting in the deaths of wild animals. The new four-lane project is expected to improve traffic safety while incorporating measures to protect wildlife.
