Eco Bridge built in Uttarakhand.

Eco bridge built in Uttarakhand to protect reptiles and other animals from Road Accidents

Uttarakhand Forest Department has built a first-of-its-kind high eco-bridge across a busy highway in Ramnagar forest division. The main reason behind this bridge is so that reptiles trying to cross over are not crushed under the traffic. The 90-foot-long pattern of bamboo, jute, and grass was built across the two-lane Kaladhungi-Nainital highway by local contractors over 10 days. The expenses of the bridge cost Rs 2 lakh. The highway is en route to Nainital and is used by a huge number of vehicles, especially in the  visitor season.

According to the statement given by the first officials, it said that The adjoining jungle is home to lizards, snakes, including pythons, rodent squirrels and monkeys, and the reptiles repeatedly get crushed under the passing vehicles. The 5-foot-wide, 40-foot-high bridge can take the weight of three adult humans, and forest of and hope that it would be used by even leopards.

Chandra Shekhar Joshi, Ramnagar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) said that the bridge, which will be surveyed by four camera traps, will be studied as a model by the Forest Department. and said that the bridge has been made at a point where the road curves in a wide 'U', and vehicles going downhill often travel at high speed. It is anticipated that by decreasing the need for sudden braking in front of a crossing animal, the road will be comfortable for human beings too.

According to an official , "This is a dense forest, and elephants, leopards, deer, and blue bulls move in this area. Drivers can see them from some distance and slow down or stop, but they barely do so for snakes, lizards, monitors, or squirrels," he also added  that to attract reptiles and other small animals to the bridge, creepers will be grown and it will be covered with grass and leaves.

The DFO said that boards are getting placed up to create awareness to protect reptiles. Forest staff would guard the area to assure visitors do not try to use the bridge for taking selfies.