Tripura Government Requests NHIDCL to Construct Underpasses for Elephant Passage

By  Firstdespatch Desk   Mar 15, 2025

Agartala, Mar 15 (FD) The Tripura government has urged the National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) to construct at least three underpasses in Khowai district to facilitate the safe passage of elephants in the Mungiakami corridor, officials said today.

The request was made as NHIDCL is currently constructing National Highway 8.

“The elephant corridor in the Mungiakami block is highly vulnerable for elephant movement. A fully grown male elephant was hit by a moving train on December 31 last year and later succumbed to its injuries. Therefore, we have asked NHIDCL to construct three underpasses to ensure free and safe passage for the elephants,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R.K. Samal told reporters.

He further stated that the death of the fully grown male elephant was a significant setback. In a group of twenty elephants, there were only two fully grown male tuskers, and the loss of one could negatively impact the population growth of elephants in the state.

Samal also mentioned that the Forest Department has requested the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to reduce train speeds while crossing the Mungiakami elephant corridor. FD JK