Haridwar, June 4 -- To mitigate man-elephant conflict along the Haridwar-Najibabad National Highway, four dedicated underpasses are being constructed to ensure the safe and unobstructed movement of both vehicles and elephants. Officials involved in the four-laning of the Kashipur-Najibabad-Haridwar highway said the road passes through a forested region that serves as a traditional elephant corridor, making safe wildlife crossings a necessity. A detailed survey was conducted in consultation with forest officials, the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, and wildlife experts. Based on their recommendations, four locations were selected for the construction of elephant-specific underpasses. "Elephant movement on this highway stretch is frequent, often disrupting traffic and raising the risk of man-elephant conflicts," said Dinesh Sharma, Project Manager at the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). "Underpasses are being built at Shyampur, Rasiabad (two locations), and Chidiyapur-areas recognised as traditional elephant corridors," he said Each underpass will be approximately 10 feet high and 25 feet wide, allowing elephants to pass safely beneath the highway, while vehicles travel overhead. Dr Gagan Matta, Assistant Professor in the department of environmental science at Gurukul Kangri University, welcomed the initiative. "Constructing these underpasses is a positive step toward ensuring the free and safe movement of elephants along this vital stretch. It will help prevent accidents and protect both human and elephant lives," he said....