WII, MSRDC ink MoU to monitor e-way wildlife passes

Nagpur: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have signed an MoU to monitor effectiveness of the structures, both constructed and proposed, for wild animal movement along the newly constructed Samruddhi expressway — which is claimed to be the first green highway. The MoU was signed two days ago in Mumbai.
The Samruddhi Mahamarg constructed between Nagpur and Mumbai is going to be the first highway in India with wildlife bridges (overpasses) and underpasses for animal movements. The MoU between WII and MSRDC will ensure that these will be monitored to evaluate the effectiveness of the structures. The project involves building nine wildlife overpasses, a first in India.
There have been more than 150 deaths of wild animals on the e-way. Also, many human deaths have resulted due to wild animal hits since the e-way opened on December 11, 2022. Now, the WII will be responsible for monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.
WII has been associated with MSRDC during the planning and construction phase of the expressway for providing relevant expertise. Now, the agency would monitor the underpasses and overpasses used by wildlife during the operational phase of the expressway.
MSRDC MD Radheshyam Mopalwar said, “With signing of this MoU, we have taken another step towards our commitment to protecting the natural heritage of Maharashtra and wildlife conservation. The monitoring of the newly constructed Samruddhi will provide insights into the effectiveness of the wildlife-friendly mitigation measures suggested by the WII.”
WII director Virendra Tiwari said, “The construction of animal crossing structures is an important step towards mitigating the impact of roads on wildlife. However, it is equally important to monitor the effectiveness of these structures to ensure that they are used by wildlife,” Tiwari stated.
The 701km-long expressway connects Nagpur to Mumbai, two of the biggest economic hubs of the state. Bilal Habib, the WII scientist, who suggested the mitigation measures for the e-way, said, “The construction of animal crossing structures such as underpasses and overpasses are a crucial step toward mitigating the impact of the highway on wildlife. Our team has worked tirelessly to identify potential wildlife movement hotspots and recommend suitable mitigation measures. We look forward to monitoring the use of these structures by wildlife.”