Uttarakhand gets it's first eco-bridge for in Nainital

Dehradun, Dec 9: Ramnagar Forest Division in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand built the first eco-bridges for smaller mammals and reptiles. The bridge was developed in consideration of the increasing concerns of small animals being killed in vehicular accidents.

The Ramnagar Forest Division of Uttarakhand has constructed the state's first eco-bridge across Kaladhungi-Nainital Highway. Kaladhungi Range Forest Officer Amit Kumar Gwaskoti has shareed that the 90 feet long and 5 feet wide bridge is Uttarakhand's first of such kind bridge.

He said, "We have constructed this bridge in the hope that small animals and reptiles like snake, squirrel, monitor lizard will cross the road through the bridge and avoid being killed by vehicles."

The officer added that there has been no use of cement or iron for the bridge and that it's totally made of eco-friendly items like bamboo, rope and grass.

According to the Wildlife Institute of India, around 50,000 kilometres of road projects have been constructed in India in five to six years. Also, several highways have been upgraded to four lanes. According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, major animal corridors are cut by the National Highways.

These highways include the State Highway 33 through Nagarhole Tiger Reerve in Karnataka, National Highway 37 through the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape in Assam.