Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project at Kaliabor in Assam’s Nagaon district, a major infrastructure initiative valued at over ₹6,950 crore. The 86-kilometre-long project is designed as an environmentally sensitive national highway, balancing development with wildlife conservation.

A key feature of the project is a 35-kilometre elevated wildlife corridor passing through Kaziranga National Park. The elevated stretch will allow animals to move freely across the landscape, significantly reducing human–wildlife conflict while safeguarding the park’s rich biodiversity. The corridor will run through Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts, and is expected to greatly improve connectivity to Upper Assam, including Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.

Addressing a public gathering at Kaliabor, the Prime Minister described Kaziranga as “not just a national park, but the soul of Assam.” He recalled that the park’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and noted a steady rise in tourist footfall in recent years. Protecting Kaziranga and its wildlife, he said, is both an environmental responsibility and an investment in Assam’s future generations.

Modi highlighted the Assam government’s efforts in curbing infiltration, conserving forests, protecting religious, cultural and historical sites, and removing encroachments, saying these steps were being widely appreciated. He also pointed out that India’s forest and tree cover has increased over the past decade, with more than 260 crore trees planted under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign so far. “India is showing the world that development and nature can move forward together,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the elevated corridor would not only protect wildlife but also enhance road safety, reduce travel time and support the growing movement of passengers and goods in the region. He appealed to people to actively participate in protecting biodiversity, stressing that nature offers immense opportunities if preserved responsibly.

During the programme, Modi also flagged off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains — the Kamakhya–Rohtak and Dibrugarh–Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) services — further strengthening rail connectivity from the Northeast.

Taking a political dig, the Prime Minister criticised the Congress for what he described as years of inaction in Assam’s development. He said recent election results reflected growing public trust in the BJP, driven by demands for good governance and development, which he said the party is committed to delivering.