Prime Minister Modi Unveils Kaziranga Wildlife Corridor and New Train Services

Foundation Stone Laid for Kaziranga Elevated Corridor

Kaliabor, Jan 18: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the foundation for the Kaziranga elevated wildlife corridor and simultaneously launched two Amrit Bharat Express trains via a virtual platform. He emphasized that development driven by infrastructure and wildlife conservation can coexist, aiming to transform Assam and the Northeast region.

During his address to a gathering in Kaliabor, Modi highlighted that the elevated corridor, costing Rs 6,957 crore, will facilitate unhindered wildlife movement while enhancing road connectivity between Upper Assam and the surrounding areas.

He referred to Kaziranga as more than just a national park, calling it 'the soul of Assam' and an invaluable asset to India's biodiversity, underscoring the importance of wildlife protection for future generations.

According to Modi, the elevated corridor is part of a nearly 90-km highway from Kaliabor to Numaligarh, designed to allow vehicles to travel above while wildlife, including rhinos, elephants, and deer, can safely navigate below through dedicated passages.

This initiative is expected to improve connectivity to Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, shorten travel times between Jorhat, Golaghat, and Guwahati, and create new economic prospects by enhancing tourism.

Modi also noted that Assam achieved zero rhino poaching incidents in 2025, crediting this success to enhanced forest protection strategies, modern surveillance technologies, and collaborative efforts between the forest department and local communities.

He remarked on the advancements in rail infrastructure, stating that improved connectivity has brought the Northeast closer to Delhi and the nation's core, reinforcing both economic development and public trust.

Modi mentioned recent rail initiatives, including the launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train connecting Guwahati and Kolkata, and the virtual introduction of two Amrit Bharat Express services.

Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed that the elevated corridor represents a significant milestone for the state, highlighting that such a large-scale conservation-focused infrastructure project for Kaziranga was previously unimaginable.

“We never thought that to safeguard Kaziranga’s wildlife, a Prime Minister would endorse a nearly 90-km elevated corridor and allocate Rs 7,000 crore. Today, PM Modi has presented Assam with a project that harmonizes development and conservation,” Sarma stated.

He further noted that the corridor would greatly reduce travel time between Upper Assam districts and Guwahati while ensuring long-term wildlife protection.

The event also included the virtual launch of two Amrit Bharat Express trains—one connecting Dibrugarh and Gomti Nagar (Lucknow), and the other linking Kamakhya and Rohtak, further enhancing Assam’s rail connectivity.