Dhanorkar meets Gadkari, pushes for wildlife overpasses on NH-930 | Nagpur News

Chandrapur: Concerned over increasing wildlife fatalities along the Chandrapur-Mul corridor, MP Pratibha Dhanorkar has urged Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari to sanction dedicated wildlife overpasses on National Highway 930, calling for urgent intervention to address the growing ecological and safety crisis.The highway, which cuts through a sensitive forest corridor, has witnessed a surge in heavy traffic — primarily coal and cement transport — leading to frequent roadkills of protected species such as tigers, leopards, and bears. Dhanorkar warned that unchecked vehicular speed and volume are endangering both wildlife and commuters.During a recent meeting in New Delhi, she emphasised the need for a permanent, engineering-based solution rather than temporary traffic regulations. She proposed constructing wildlife overpasses at key stretches with high animal movement to ensure safe passage across the highway.Citing the internationally acclaimed wildlife overpasses on the Nagpur-Pench National Highway (NH-7), she underlined that infrastructure development and environmental conservation must go hand in hand. She recommended adopting the ‘Pench model’ to ensure safe passage for wildlife while maintaining smooth traffic flow.Dhanorkar also called for expedited approvals from the National Board for Wildlife and better coordination between ministries to secure funding and clearances.She expressed confidence that such measures would significantly reduce human-wildlife conflict while preserving the region’s ecological integrity.