Even with increasing cases of vehicles hitting animals along the Gap Road stretch in Munnar, a project to construct ‘animal bridges’ and underpasses along the Kochi-Dhanushkodi national highway 85 in Munnar remains on paper. According to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials, it paid ₹6.96 crore to the State Forest department last year, but the works have not begun yet.
According to the officials, as per the project, an underpass for elephants at three locations on NH-85 and ramps for elephants on the highway, hume pipes, and an overbridge for animals along the Gap Road was to be constructed. For this, an amount of ₹5.6 crore was allocated. In addition, ₹1.36 crore was allocated for short-term mitigation measures and monitoring of human-elephant conflict along the highway.
The measures include strengthening of the rapid response team (RRT) with infrastructures and required vehicles apart from development of an SMS-based alert system. The total fund allotment also included the cost of installation of solar fencing, sign boards and street lights, engagement of watchers/trackers for monitoring elephant movement and so on.
