Expert Panel Approves Varanasi to Kolkata Expressway Project by Environment Ministry

A segment of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project, which entails the development of a four-to-six lane expressway with an estimated budget of ₹9,250 crore, will intersect a region designated as a tiger landscape.

This expressway project aims to enhance connectivity and facilitate economic growth in the areas it traverses. However, the constructions impact on local wildlife and ecosystems, particularly in regions designated as critical tiger habitats, has raised concerns among environmentalists and wildlife conservation organizations.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has highlighted the importance of maintaining ecological balance in these areas. In light of this, the NHAI is expected to conduct thorough environmental assessments and implement mitigation strategies to minimize the projects adverse effects on wildlife. The ongoing discussions surrounding the project highlight the need to balance infrastructure development with conservation efforts in tiger habitats.