PM Modi lays foundation stone for ₹6,957-crore Kaziranga corridor, flags off two Amrit Bharat trains

The laying of the foundation stone by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ₹6,957-crore Kaziranga corridor project, alongside the flagging off of two Amrit Bharat trains, marks a significant moment showcasing India's dual commitment to infrastructure development and environmental conservation. This event encapsulates crucial themes relevant for competitive exams, ranging from sustainable development to judicial activism and modern transport infrastructure.

**Background Context and What Happened:**

Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam, is globally renowned for its population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros and its status as a Tiger Reserve. However, the park's unique ecosystem faces a persistent threat from National Highway 715 (formerly NH-37), which cuts through crucial animal corridors. These corridors are vital for the movement of wildlife, especially during the annual monsoon floods when animals migrate to higher ground. The highway has historically been a site of significant human-wildlife conflict, leading to numerous animal casualties dueg to vehicular collisions. Recognising this critical challenge, there has been a long-standing demand for mitigating measures to ensure safe passage for wildlife while also improving road connectivity. The ₹6,957-crore Kaziranga corridor project is a direct response to this need, designed to create elevated structures, underpasses, and bypasses that allow animals to cross safely without encountering vehicular traffic. Crucially, the project design explicitly complies with the directions of the Supreme Court of India and incorporates recommendations from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), underscoring a scientifically informed and judicially mandated approach to development. Simultaneously, the flagging off of two Amrit Bharat trains signifies the government's push for modernizing railway infrastructure, enhancing passenger experience, and improving connectivity, particularly for migrant workers and students, through non-AC sleeper-cum-general coaches.

**Key Stakeholders Involved:**

Several key players are central to this initiative. The **Government of India**, primarily through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is the driving force behind the project, providing funding and policy direction. The **Assam State Government** plays a vital role in local implementation, land acquisition, and ensuring regional development benefits. The **Supreme Court of India** has been a pivotal stakeholder, issuing directives that mandate environmental safeguards for linear infrastructure projects passing through critical wildlife habitats, thereby shaping the project's design. The **Wildlife Institute of India (WII)**, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, provides critical scientific expertise and recommendations to ensure the ecological integrity of such projects. The **National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)** is responsible for the project's execution. Local communities, wildlife conservationists, and environmental NGOs also form important stakeholder groups, advocating for sustainable practices and monitoring project impacts.

**Significance for India:**

This project holds immense significance for India on multiple fronts. Environmentally, it sets a precedent for balancing infrastructure development with ecological preservation, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions. By creating dedicated animal passages, it aims to drastically reduce roadkills and minimize habitat fragmentation, thereby safeguarding the precious wildlife of Kaziranga. This aligns with India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its own National Wildlife Action Plan. Economically, improved connectivity through the corridor and the new railway lines will boost trade, tourism, and regional development in the Northeast, contributing to the 'Act East' policy. Socially, enhanced rail connectivity via Amrit Bharat trains will improve access to transport for a broader segment of the population. From a governance perspective, the project highlights the increasing role of judicial oversight (environmental jurisprudence) in ensuring that development projects adhere to stringent environmental norms, reflecting the principles enshrined in **Article 48A** (Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife) and **Article 51A(g)** (Fundamental duty to protect and improve the natural environment).

**Historical Context and Future Implications:**

The conflict between infrastructure development and wildlife conservation is not new in India. Past projects, such as those in the Pench-Kanha tiger corridor in Central India or in the Western Ghats, have faced similar challenges, leading to a gradual evolution in environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes and project design. The Kaziranga corridor project builds on these lessons, demonstrating a more integrated and sensitive approach. Its successful implementation could serve as a model for future linear infrastructure projects traversing critical ecological zones across the country, influencing policy frameworks like the **Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980**, and the **Environment (Protection) Act, 1986**. The long-term implications include enhanced wildlife safety, improved ecological connectivity, and a boost to eco-tourism. The Amrit Bharat trains, part of the broader railway modernization efforts under schemes like the **Amrit Bharat Station Scheme** and aligned with the **PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan**, signify a future where modern, efficient, and accessible public transport is a cornerstone of national development. Challenges remain in ensuring long-term maintenance, preventing further encroachment, and continuously monitoring the effectiveness of these mitigation measures.