Pilot project to establish cattle shelters
Context
Recently, NHAI has launched a pilot project to establish cattle shelters, aiming to reduce accidents while ensuring humane care for stray animals.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Government Policies and interventions)
About the Project
- Objective: Enhance road safety by managing stray cattle along highways and preventing animal-related accidents.
- Implementation: NHAI has partnered with M/s Gawar Construction Ltd. to build and maintain cattle shelters along designated highway stretches. These shelters, spanning 0.21 to 2.29 hectares, will provide safe spaces for stray cattle.
- Key Locations: Pilot shelters will be set up along highways such as NH-334B (Kharkhoda Bypass), NH-148B (Hansi Bypass), NH-21 (Kiratpur–Ner Chowk), and NH-112 (Jodhpur Ring Road).
- Facilities: Shelters will include provisions for fodder, water, first aid, and caretakers. Cattle ambulances, first-aid centres, and veterinary hospitals will cover a 50-km radius for timely treatment.
- CSR Support: The initiative leverages Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to ensure comprehensive care and safe transportation of animals.
Way Forward
- Expansion Plans: Based on the pilot’s success, similar shelters could be extended to other highways nationwide. Concessionaires and highway builders are encouraged to partner in scaling this initiative.
- Integrated Solutions: Collaboration with State Governments to address ancillary issues like cattle ownership and rehabilitation is crucial.
- Holistic Infrastructure Development: The project aligns with NHAI’s vision of creating safer highways while fulfilling humane responsibilities, setting a benchmark for future infrastructure projects.
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