Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi performs Bhoomi Pujan of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project, worth over ₹6,950 Crore in Kaliabor, Assam

1. At a Glance

₹6,957 crore EPC-mode 4-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715 in Assam, totalling 85.675 km, featuring an ~35 km elevated wildlife corridor across Kaziranga [S1][S2].
Bhoomi Pujan performed by PM Narendra Modi at Kaliabor, Assam on 18 January 2026 [S1][S4].
Flagship example of reconciling NH connectivity in NER with biodiversity protection of a UNESCO World Heritage Site — directly examinable under Infra + Environment [S1][S5].

18 Jan 2026: PM Modi performed Bhoomi Pujan of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor at Kaliabor, Nagaon district, Assam [S1].
Follows Union Cabinet approval (Sept 2025) of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh NH-715 widening [S2] and NHAI tendering reported in 2026 [S3].

NH-715 (old NH-37) is the lifeline of Upper Assam, cutting through the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park — site of repeated wildlife roadkill and rhino mortality during floods [S2].
2023: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari reviewed progress of the proposed Kaziranga Elevated Road [via prior PIB 2023 review].
2025: CCEA approved 4-laning of Kaliabor–Numaligarh on EPC mode [S2].
Jan 2026: Foundation laid by PM during his Assam visit (17–18 Jan 2026) [S1][S4].

Project: 4-Laning of Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715, branded "Kaziranga Elevated Corridor" [S1].
Length: 85.675 km total = ~35 km elevated wildlife corridor + 21 km bypass + 30 km widening [S1].
Cost: ₹6,957 crore [S1][S2].
Mode: EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) [S1].
Implementing agency: NHAI under Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) [S3].
Districts traversed: Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat [S1].
Wildlife rationale: Free passage between Kaziranga NP and Karbi Anglong hills during Brahmaputra floods [S1].
Kaziranga NP: UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed 1985 (criteria ix, x); houses ~two-thirds of world's Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros; declared Tiger Reserve in 2007 [S5].

Environmental:
Elevated structure designed to allow uninterrupted cross-movement of rhinos, elephants, tigers, hog deer between core park and Karbi Anglong [S1].
Mitigates seasonal flood-driven migration mortality flagged by UNESCO [S5].
Economic:
Cuts logistics time to Dibrugarh & Tinsukia (Upper Assam) — oil, tea, refinery (Numaligarh) corridors [S1].
Boost to eco-tourism, homestays, handicrafts around Kaziranga (PM speech) [S1].
Administrative / Federalism:
Central scheme (MoRTH/NHAI) intersecting state forest jurisdiction + UNESCO obligations — requires NBWL & FCA clearances.
Strategic (Act East):
NH-715 is a spine for NE connectivity; PM framed NER as "closer to Delhi's heart" [S1].
Legal:
Triggers Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (Sec. 29 — alteration of NP boundaries/use), Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and EIA Notification 2006.

18 Jan 2026 — PM Bhoomi Pujan at Kaliabor [S1].
17–18 Jan 2026 — PM's broader Assam visit announced via PIB [S4].
2026 — NHAI received strong bidder response for the Kaliabor–Numaligarh stretch [S3].
2025 — Union Cabinet (CCEA) cleared the project [S2].

GS-III — Infrastructure (roads); Environment & biodiversity conservation.
GS-I — Geography of NE India; Brahmaputra floods.
Syllabus headings: "Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads"; "Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, EIA."
Probable stems: 1. "Linear infrastructure through protected areas need not be antithetical to conservation." Examine in light of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor. 2. Discuss the role of NH-715 corridor in Act East policy and biodiversity trade-offs. 3. Evaluate institutional safeguards (WPA, FCA, EIA) for highway projects through World Heritage Sites.

Bharatmala Pariyojana — parent NH programme rationalising NH-715 upgrades.
Numaligarh Refinery & Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline — terminus economy.
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) & NBWL — clearance regime for such projects.
One-Horned Rhino conservation / DNA database — flagship species.
Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (Sixth Schedule) — jurisdiction overlap.
UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites in India (Kaziranga, Manas, Sundarbans, Western Ghats, Nanda Devi, Great Himalayan NP).
Brahmaputra flood management — context for animal migration.
PM Gati Shakti & NER connectivity — strategic framing.

NH number: project is on NH-715, NOT NH-37 (renumbered).
Length confusion: total is 85.675 km; only ~35 km is elevated, not the whole stretch.
Inscription year of Kaziranga WHS: 1985, not 1974 (year of NP declaration) or 2007 (Tiger Reserve).
Implementing agency: NHAI/MoRTH, not MoEFCC (which only grants clearances).
Kaziranga is in Assam spanning Golaghat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Biswanath, Sonitpur — not solely Golaghat.

[S1] PM performs Bhoomi Pujan of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2215880 — (tier: 1)
[S2] Cabinet approves 4-laning of Kaliabor–Numaligarh, NH-715 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2173561 — (tier: 1)
[S3] NHAI receives overwhelming response from bidders, Kaliabor–Numaligarh NH-715 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2239586 — (tier: 1)
[S4] PM to visit Assam on 17–18 January — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2215248 — (tier: 1)
[S5] Kaziranga National Park — UNESCO World Heritage Centre — https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/337/ — (tier: 2)