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NHAI to set up shelters for stray cattle to check highway accidents

While NHAI will provide the land for these shelters, the project will be executed by Gawar Construction Ltd., the existing concessionaire or contractor of these National Highways

The construction firm will also maintain these shelters by providing first aid, adequate fodder, water, and caretakers throughout the concession period, ensuring the well-being of the animals. (Express)

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Tuesday signed a contract with a construction company to build cattle shelters along National Highways, in a pilot project aimed at preventing stray cattle-related accidents.

The first shelter will be constructed along the Kharkhoda Bypass on the UP-Haryana border to Rohna section on NH-334B. Shelters will also be built along the Bhiwani-Hansi section of NH-148B at Hansi Bypass in Haryana; the Kiratpur-Ner Chowk section of NH-21 in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh; and the Dangiyawas-Jajiwal section of the Jodhpur Ring Road on NH-112 in Rajasthan.

While NHAI will provide the land for these shelters, the project will be executed by Gawar Construction Ltd., the existing concessionaire or contractor of these National Highways. The construction firm will also maintain these shelters by providing first aid, adequate fodder, water, and caretakers throughout the concession period, ensuring the well-being of the animals.

NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said, “This is another step that furthers NHAI’s commitment to not only create safer National Highways for commuters by enhancing road safety, but (it) also fulfils a humane requirement of taking care of stray cattle/animals.”

Ravinder Gawar, the director of Gawar Construction Ltd., said he is open to extending this initiative on (highway) projects awarded to other concessionaires also.

Dheeraj Mishra

Dheeraj Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with the Business Bureau of The Indian Express. He plays a critical role in covering India's massive infrastructure sectors, providing in-depth reporting on the connectivity lifelines of the nation. Expertise & Focus Areas: Mishra’s journalism is focused on two of the country's most capital-intensive and public-facing ministries: Ministry of Railways: Tracking the operations, safety, and development of India's vast railway network. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: Covering policy decisions, infrastructure projects, and highway development. What sets Mishra apart is his rigorous use of the Right to Information (RTI) Actas a primary tool for news gathering. By relying on official data and government records, he ensures a high degree of accuracy and trustworthiness in his reporting. This data-driven approach has resulted in numerous impactful reports that hold public institutions accountable and bring transparency to government operations. Find all stories by Dheeraj Mishra here ... Read More

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