Nation’s First Wildlife-Friendly Flyover Plan in Chitwan’s Tikauli Forest
Kathmandu — The Government of Nepal is moving ahead with a major infrastructure initiative that integrates conservation with road expansion, announcing plans to construct the country’s first-ever wildlife-friendly flyover in Chitwan’s Tikauli Forest area along the Narayangarh–Hetauda section of the East-West Highway.
The proposed flyover aims to significantly reduce wildlife fatalities while supporting the long-term expansion of one of Nepal’s busiest highway corridors.
Flyover to Protect Wildlife in a Sensitive Corridor
The flyover will be built in the Tikauli Forest, a highly sensitive zone connected to Chitwan National Park through the Barandabhar biological corridor. This stretch has long been identified as a high-risk area for wildlife-vehicle collisions, posing threats to animals as well as human safety.
According to Chudaraj Dhakal, Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Project Directorate, the structure will be approximately two kilometers long and cost an estimated Rs 7 billion. Preparatory work for the flyover is already underway, with wildlife safety placed at the center of the design.
“This will be the first time such a long flyover is constructed inside a protected area in Nepal,” Dhakal said, emphasizing its significance for conservation-focused infrastructure development.
International Pressure and Revised Design
The inclusion of a wildlife-friendly structure followed sustained pressure from international conservation organizations, including UNESCO and WWF, which urged Nepal to ensure ecological safeguards during the highway expansion.
Initially, the Ministry of Forests had proposed a 3.8-kilometer flyover across the forest. However, following technical and policy-level discussions, the plan was revised to a two-kilometer flyover, with fencing to be installed in the remaining sections to prevent animals from accessing the roadway directly.
ADB to Provide Grant Support
The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide substantial financial support for the flyover. Of the total estimated cost, ADB will contribute around USD 20 million, equivalent to approximately Rs 3 billion, as a grant. The remaining amount will be financed through ADB’s concessional loan facility.
Dhakal noted that while the project cost is high, the long-term benefits include enhanced wildlife protection, improved road safety, and increased appeal for eco-tourism in Chitwan, one of Nepal’s most important tourism destinations.
Innovative Design and Specifications
The flyover will feature a modern and expandable design with two parallel decks supporting one-way traffic on each side. It will include dedicated lanes for vehicles as well as separate pedestrian and bicycle paths.
The structure is designed to accommodate future traffic growth and can be expanded to three lanes on each side if needed. In total, the flyover will have 67 pillars, allowing vehicles to pass overhead while wildlife moves freely underneath, minimizing habitat fragmentation and reducing animal deaths.
Tender Process and Project Timeline
The Narayangarh–Hetauda road expansion covers a 70-kilometer stretch and includes upgrading the highway to four lanes, with market areas expanded to eight lanes, including service roads. The project’s Environmental Impact Assessment is in the final approval stage, and detailed design work is progressing rapidly.
The ADB Project Directorate expects to call for tenders by February (Magh–Falgun). Notices have already been issued to clear structures within the highway’s right-of-way.
Additional Road Expansion Projects
Alongside the Tikauli flyover, other major road upgrades are underway. The Muglin–Aanbukhaireni section is being prepared for expansion, with a total project cost for the Aanbukhaireni and Narayangarh–Hetauda sections estimated at Rs 53 billion under ADB concessional loans.
The Muglin–Aanbukhaireni road will be widened to two lanes initially, with new concrete bridges planned near Muglin Bazaar and the Marshyangdi Hydropower Project. The road will later expand to four lanes up to Jamune. Additionally, design work has been completed for the 100-kilometer Pathlaiya–Narayangarh road expansion.
Officials say the wildlife-friendly flyover marks a milestone in Nepal’s effort to balance infrastructure development with environmental conservation, setting a precedent for future projects in ecologically sensitive areas.
