BUTWAL: Two more overhead canopy bridges designed to help monkeys safely cross the road are to be constructed in the forest areas along the Narayanghat-Butwal section of the East-West Highway in Nawalparasi East.
Preparations are underway to construct the bridges in the forest areas between Kawasoti and Lakaha, and between Chormara and Arunkhola. The section is being upgraded to a four-lane highway in accordance with Asian Highway standards.
According to Engineer Shiva Khanal, information officer for the Narayanghat-Butwal Road Expansion Project, the bridges are being constructed to reduce accidents caused by monkeys crossing the busy highway.
“The number of accidents has increased since monkeys began moving from the hills toward the Terai,” Khanal said. “People have also lost their lives in accidents caused by monkeys crossing the highway. The bridges are being constructed to reduce such accidents.”
A canopy bridge has already been constructed in the Nawalparasi (Bardaghat-Susta East) section of the East-West Highway. Monkeys have been observed using the bridge constructed in the Pitauji forest in Gaindakot-10, Khanal said.
However, he said it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the canopy bridge. “We need to create a suitable environment for monkeys and other wildlife to use the bridge. We are also preparing to attract monkeys by placing fruits on the bridge during the initial days,” he said.
According to Khanal, each canopy bridge will be constructed at a cost of less than Rs. 500,000. The project found that constructing such bridges in forest areas along the highway could help reduce wildlife-related accidents and the resulting damage.
Under its Biodiversity Conservation and Promotion Programme, the road expansion project has already constructed a 34-metre-long and four-foot-wide canopy bridge over the highway in the forest area of Gaindakot. The bridge is expected to particularly help monkeys cross the busy highway safely.
Khanal said the construction of canopy bridges is aimed at facilitating the natural movement of wildlife, conserving biodiversity, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and making road infrastructure more environmentally friendly.
The road expansion project has also undertaken other biodiversity conservation measures, including constructing water ponds in forest areas along the highway and providing necessary support to control poaching, he said.
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