Agartala: The Tripura government has urged the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to construct underpasses along the Mungiakami elephant corridor in Khowai district to ensure the safe movement of elephants.
The request comes as NHIDCL works to upgrade the Chakmaghat-Teliamura section of National Highway 8.
“We have requested NHIDCL to build two to three underpasses in the Mungiakami elephant corridor to facilitate the free and safe movement of elephants,” said RK Samal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, on Saturday.
The appeal follows a tragic incident on December 31, when a full-grown male elephant was fatally struck by a train in Mungiakami.
The herd, consisting of 20 elephants, included only two fully grown males, making the loss a significant blow to conservation efforts.
“This incident will undoubtedly impact the population dynamics of the herd,” Samal remarked.
In addition to its plea to NHIDCL, the state’s Forest Department has reached out to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to implement measures to prevent such accidents.
“We have urged NFR to limit train speeds in the elephant corridor and construct underpasses and overbridges to reduce the risk of collisions,” Samal said.
He added that the department has also requested fencing on both sides of the tracks, but there has been no positive response so far.
