| Work Detail |
The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has granted its approval for the construction of a vital bridge on state highway-120 (Indargarh–Lalitpur), a route that traverses the sensitive Chambal Gharial Sanctuary area. This bridge project is anticipated to significantly benefit over 3 lakh residents across the Indargarh and Lakheri areas of Bundi district, the Khatauli, Pipalda, and Etawa areas of Kota district in Rajasthan, as well as parts of neighbouring Madhya Pradesh by improving connectivity and reducing travel times. A senior official confirmed that this decision clears the way for the construction of the proposed high-level bridge over the Chambal River and its connecting approach roads. The official noted that the project had been stalled for several years and finally received the necessary clearance after the Lok Sabha Speaker advocated for it and held discussions with the Ministry of Environment. Administrative approval for the bridge construction, with a sanctioned amount of ?256.46 crore, was granted by the public works department in 2023. The bridge is planned at village Gothda Kalan, situated on the Indargarh–Dhibri–Rajopa–Etawa–Shahnawda–Lalitpur state highway-120. The total proposed length of the project is 4.8 kilometres, which includes a 1,880-metre bridge structure and 2,920 metres of approach roads. Land acquisition for the project is currently in progress, with 14.94 hectares being acquired in Bundi district and 7.233 hectares in Kota district. The official emphasized that because the bridge falls within the protected Chambal Sanctuary area, obtaining approval from the National Board for Wildlife was a mandatory requirement. The proposal for the bridge construction within the sanctuary was initially submitted in December 2023. It was subsequently forwarded to the National Board for Wildlife following recommendations from the State Wildlife Board. The NBWL granted its clearance during its meeting held on April 22, 2025, subject to necessary environmental conditions to mitigate any potential impact on the sanctuary and its inhabitants, including the critically endangered gharials. |
