The authorities concerned have decided to construct two underpasses along the Kathmandu-Terai expressway—one of the national pride projects of Nepal—for the free movement of wild animals.
According to Parsa National Park Chief Amir Maharjan, the underpasses will be built in a community forest in Bara district along the expressway being constructed by the Nepal Army.
“We have floated proposal to construct the underpasses in the northern part of the community forest which is about seven kilometers from the East-West Highway and around one kilometer from the border of Parsa National Park for the safety of the animals,” he said, adding, “The movement of wild animals will be affected if the roads are constructed through the middle of the forest.”
The Nepal Army said that discussions are underway to estimate the budget necessary for the construction of the underpasses.
According to a Nepal Army source, the plan about the construction of underpasses for the wild animals in the jungle of Bara along the expressway is mentioned in the detailed project report (DPR).
Conservationists had been protesting over and over again in the past demanding that the government construct the underpass or search for other alternatives arguing that the construction of road in the jungle area will affect the movement of wild animals.
They had been raising their voices suspecting that the speeding vehicles along the expressway will increase the wildlife fatalities.
It has been learnt that the construction of underpasses will minimize the accidents as the wild animals are used to using the traditional corridors for their movement.
