Overpass connecting multiple wildlife habitats opened for one-sided traffic near Ranthambore
Jaipur (PTI): A major overpass along a stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Ranthambore National Park has been opened for one-sided traffic, aimed at ensuring safe movement of animals and reducing human-wildlife conflict, an official said.
The overpass spans an 11.5 km stretch where special engineering measures have been implemented to allow wildlife and traffic to coexist with minimal disturbance.
At the core of the design is a 3.5 km animal overpass system, comprising five segments of around 500 metres each, along with dedicated underpasses exclusively for wildlife movement.
Constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 900 crore by Larsen and Toubro, the overpass connects key wildlife habitats, including Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, and parts of Kuno National Park, creating a continuous ecological corridor, a company official said.
He said the structures are covered with soil and native vegetation to replicate natural habitat conditions, allowing animals to cross without stepping onto the highway. Sound barriers and high walls have also been installed to minimise traffic noise and disturbance.
Around 1,500 LED lights have been installed to guide motorists through covered stretches, ensuring safety without affecting wildlife movement.
The initiative seeks to address habitat fragmentation caused by highways and reduce accidents involving animals. The project is expected to be fully completed by September 2026, officials added.
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India describes attack on Fujairah 'unacceptable'
New Delhi (PTI): India on Tuesday described the wounding of three Indians in an attack on the United Arab Emirates' port city of Fujairah as "unacceptable" and pressed for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting innocent civilians.
New Delhi's reaction came a day after the Indians were injured after a drone attack caused a fire at a major oil industry zone in Fujairah. The UAE had accused Iran of carrying out the strike.
"The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
"We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," the spokesperson said.
Jaiswal said India continued to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability could be restored across West Asia.
"We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues," he said.
The attack on Fujairah city came as the ceasefire between the US and Iran came under strain in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas pass, remains a major sticking point in the talks. Shipping through the narrow Gulf waterway has been severely disrupted by the conflict, triggering a sharp increase in oil prices and energy shortages in several countries.
The UAE's defence ministry on Monday said its air defence systems engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones launched from Iran.
The ministry affirmed that it "remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country."
