NEW DELHI — The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a landmark ₹6,957 crore project to widen and upgrade the Kalibor–Numaligarh section of National Highway (NH)-715 in Assam. The project includes a historic 34.5 km elevated corridor across the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) establishing a new benchmark for conservation-friendly infrastructure in India.
The approval is hailed as a historic step in infrastructure planning, designed to ensure the uninterrupted and safe movement of the park iconic wildlife, including elephants, rhinos, and tigers, especially during annual floods and migration periods.
Project Balances Development and Conservation
The 85.675 km stretch of NH-715 (formerly NH-37) currently skirts the southern boundary of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has historically resulted in wildlife deaths due to vehicular movement. The new project aims to address these critical issues:
Feature & Details:
1. Elevated Corridor: 34.5 km across Kaziranga NP for safe wildlife passage. At-Grade Widening 30.22 km of existing road upgraded to four lanes.
2. Bypasses: Two greenfield bypasses: Jakhlabandha (11.5 km) and Bokakhat (9.5 km). Total Capital Cost ₹6,957 crore.
The elevated structure will allow animals to cross safely towards the Karbi Anglong Hills, significantly reducing road accidents. Furthermore, the construction will integrate nature-based solutions like erosion control and stormwater management, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure.
Economic and Connectivity Boost
The four-lane corridor is expected to provide a major boost to regional connectivity and economic activity in North-East India:
• Tourism: It will strengthen the link between Guwahati, Kaziranga, and Numaligarh boosting tourism inflows to the national park.
• Industry: The project will facilitate the movement of goods, benefiting industries like the Numaligarh oil refinery and fishing clusters in Tezpur and Nagaon.
• Connectivity: It links NH-715 with NH-127, NH-129, and SH-35, providing seamless access to three airports and three railway stations and improving access to cultural sites like the Baba Than Temple and Kakochang Waterfalls.
The project is estimated to generate substantial employment, creating approximately 34.61 lakh person-days of employment (direct and indirect), and is set to reduce travel time, enhance safety, and improve logistics efficiency along this crucial corridor.
The Kalibor–Numaligarh highway is being positioned as a model of inclusive growth under the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, setting a benchmark for future infrastructure projects across ecologically sensitive regions in the country.