The accident-prone Danua valley stretch on GT Road, where seven people lost their lives this week in three separate road accidents, is likely to undergo structural changes to improve safety.
WII Recommends Elevated Road
Gobind Sagar Bharadwaj, the director of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), on April 28 wrote a letter to Hazaribag project director of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) recommending the construction of elevated roads along the valley. This measure aims to facilitate the movement of animals from the Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary and reduce accidents.
NHAI Response
Talking to TOI, NHAI’s Manoj Pandey acknowledged having received the letter. "The proposal has been sent to higher-ups of NHAI for technical approval. Once approved, a detailed project report will be made followed by a tender to get a flyover at Danua," he added.
Rising Accident Toll
The stretch of the road, which passes through Danua valley, has seen a rise in accidents in recent years. Records state that accidents have killed 25 people in the valley between January and April this year. The WII, which carried out a study in January this year, flagged the existing highway alignment as a major risk both for commuters and animals and suggested key design changes.
Wildlife Corridor Disruption
In its communication, WII said that the current road has disrupted natural wildlife corridors and contributed to a rise in accidents. It also suggested elevating portions of the highway up to around six meters, allowing safe underpasses for animal movement while improving road safety.
