Eco-Bridges to Come Up in Asifabad to Prevent Wildlife Casualties
Table of Contents
Source: Telangana today
Relevance: TGPSC Telangana Ecology, Forest & Wildlife, Infrastructure & Environment
Important Key Concepts for Prelims and Mains:
For Prelims:
Eco-bridges, Wildlife Overpasses, Wildlife Corridors, NTCA, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Rebena–Sirpur (T) Rail Line, CCTV Camera Traps,
For Mains:
- Habitat Fragmentation, Landscape Connectivity, Human–Wildlife Conflict, Tiger Conservation in Telangana, Infrastructure–Wildlife Interface, Railway Mortality,
Why in News?
Three new overpass eco-bridges have been proposed along the Rebena–Sirpur (T) railway line in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana.The initiative aims to prevent wildlife casualties caused by speeding trains on a forested stretch of the railway track.A National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) team visited the site in August and recommended eco-bridges to ensure safe animal movement.
Background: Wildlife Casualties in the Region
The 20-km railway line runs through dense forests of Asifabad, a known habitat for:
- Tigers, Leopards, Wild boars, Jungle cats, Spotted deer, Nilgai, Porcupines
Recent incidents include:
- A tiger run over by a train in Manikgarh forests (Maharashtra border).
- A leopard killed on the tracks in Sirpur (T) last year.
- Numerous herbivores and small animals hit by trains while crossing tracks.
Increasing wildlife movement is linked to:
- Seasonal migration
- Search for territories
- Winter mating movement
- Movement towards water sources
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA
- A statutory body under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Constituted under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, amended in 2006.
- Mandated to strengthen tiger conservation.
Key Features
- Works through advisories, guidelines, monitoring and evaluation.
- Provides funding support under Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Project Tiger.
- Oversees tiger estimation, habitat protection, and anti-poaching efforts.
Objectives
- Give statutory authority to Project Tiger.
- Foster Centre–State accountability through MoUs.
- Ensure Parliamentary oversight.
- Address livelihood concerns of local communities around tiger reserves.
Powers & Functions (Section 38O, WLPA 1972)
✔ Approve State Tiger Conservation Plans
✔ Evaluate ecological sustainability of land use; disallow mining & industrial projects inside tiger reserves
✔ Set tourism norms for core & buffer areas
✔ Mitigate human–wildlife conflict and promote co-existence
✔ Monitor tiger population, prey base, habitat condition, disease surveillance, patrolling
✔ Approve & coordinate research and monitoring
✔ Ensure corridors between tiger reserves are not diverted for unsustainable uses
✔ Support eco-development and community participation
✔ Provide scientific, IT and legal support to tiger reserves
✔ Conduct capacity building of forest staff
NTCA can issue binding written directions to any officer/authority for tiger protection.
Details of the Proposed Eco-Bridges
Forest officials have proposed:
- Three overpasses, each 100 metres wide
- To be built across a 20-km-long railway line
- Supported by fencing to guide animals to crossing points
- Continuous CCTV monitoring using trap cameras
These structures will significantly reduce wildlife being hit by trains.
Existing Eco-Bridges:
Two existing eco-bridges built across NH-363 at:
- Goleti (Rebena mandal)
- Goyagaon (Wankidi mandal)
They have shown impressive results:
- Wide range of wildlife, including tigers, crossing successfully
- Movement recorded on CCTV traps
- Wildlife such as wild boars, jungle cats, porcupines, spotted deer frequently using the structures
In November 2024, a tiger was recorded crossing NH near Goyagaon using an overpass eco-bridge.
A 30-metre and a 150-metre eco-bridge were constructed earlier at Goyagaon and Goleti with NTCA support.
Why Eco-Bridges Are Needed
- High wildlife mortality on railway tracks
- Tiger dispersal routes from Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve towards Kawal landscape pass through this region
- Habitat fragmentation by highways and railways
- Ensuring safe animal movement reduces poaching and human encounters
- Preventing derailments due to large animal hits
Significance of the Move
- Protects endangered and vulnerable species
- Maintains ecological connectivity across fragmented landscapes
- Reduces chances of conflict and accidental deaths
- Supports tiger gene flow in the Kawal–Tadoba corridor
- Establishes Telangana as a model for wildlife-friendly infrastructure
Challenges
- High cost of eco-bridge construction (earlier structures cost ₹30–75 crore)
- Need for continuous monitoring and maintenance
- Ensuring animals adapt to using the bridges
- Managing poaching incidents in adjoining forests
- Coordination between Forest Department, Railways and NTCA
Way Forward
- Strengthen fencing to channel wildlife safely
- Install early-warning systems for approaching trains
- Increase patrolling by Special Tiger Protection Force
- Conduct wildlife movement studies with radio-collared animals
- Integrate eco-bridge planning in all new linear infrastructure projects
CARE MCQ
Q. With reference to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), consider the following statements:
- NTCA is a statutory body established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
- NTCA was created through an amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 2006.
- NTCA’s directives are advisory and not legally binding on State Governments.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation
- Statement 1 — Correct:
NTCA is a statutory body established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. - Statement 2 — Correct:
It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). - Statement 3 — Correct:
NTCA was created through the 2006 amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act to strengthen tiger protection. - Statement 4 — Incorrect:
NTCA’s directives are legally binding, not advisory.
Under Section 38O(2) of the Act, any authority or officer must comply with its written directions.
