Safe passage for Odisha wildlife put on track

BHUBANESWAR: With growing expansion of railway networks cutting through critical wildlife habitats, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has lent a hand to Odisha for creation of passages for wild animals,elephants to be particular, as part of mitigation measures that can prevent casualties on the tracks.

The Wildlife Wing of the State Government has submitted a proposal to DG (Forests) which will be placed before the Rail Ministry for financial support. On April 28, DG (Forests) Sidhanta Das wrote to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) SS Srivastava informing Prabhu’s interest to support construction of under and overpasses to prevent death of wild animals due to train accidents.The Wildlife Wing’s proposal includes construction of underpasses at 14 points in three forest divisions of the State, sources said.

One underpass has been proposed in Berhampur Forest Division where five jumbos were killed by
Coromondal Express five years back. Of the 11 proposals under Keonjhar Forest Division, three are
planned between Keonjhar and Nayagarh under East Coast Railway, seven between Nayagarh and
Padapahad and one between Keonjhar and Harichandanpur under South Eastern Railway. Similarly, under Athagarh Forest Division, one underpass has been planned along Joranda RoadRaj Athagarh.

In Keonjhar and Rairakhole Divisions, girder fencing has been proposed at six places which are used
by elephant as passages. These rail fencings include Keonjhar­Banspani segment and the stretch from
Rungta mines to Nayagarh. Since wild animals, mostly elephants, fall victim to trains after failing to assess their speed, the Wildlife Wing has also proposed nine segments where pace of the trains has to be controlled.

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