Raipur–Visakhapatnam economic corridor to halve travel time; tiger reserve tunnel anchors eco-sensitive highway

RAIPUR: Travel from Raipur to the eastern seaboard could soon take just half a day. The under-construction Raipur–Visakhapatnam economic corridor is expected to cut travel time from around 12 hours to 6–7 hours once the 464 km, six-lane, access-controlled highway is completed, officials said. The tunnel along the route is a key “first” for Chhattisgarh’s highway network and is being highlighted as the signature feature of the state’s first six-lane eco-corridor.Designed as a high-speed logistics spine linking central India to Visakhapatnam port, the corridor is also being presented as an example of large-scale road construction that progresses rapidly without disturbing fragile habitats.NHAI officials said the project, with a stated investment of Rs 16,491 crore, includes a 2.79 km twin-tube tunnel beneath the Udanti–Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, aimed at protecting the tiger corridor while enabling the highway to traverse difficult hilly terrain.In Chhattisgarh, the corridor covers about 125 km, being developed in three phases from Jhanki to Marangpuri at an estimated cost of Rs 4,146 crore. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said overall construction has surpassed 70%, with the corridor, designed for speeds of up to 100 km/h, expected to be completed within the next two years.Officials highlighted the wildlife mitigation measures incorporated into the design. These include 28 monkey canopies in the Udanti–Sitanadi area, eight overbridges for elephants in the Dhamtari corridor, and 19 animal passages for species such as tigers and bears. Additional safety features include animal underpasses and overpasses, fencing at critical locations, camera-based monitoring systems, and traffic impact attenuators to reduce fatalities in the event of collisions.The NHAI said the reduced travel time would lower fuel consumption and emissions compared with existing routes, while also benefiting freight movement. The corridor will facilitate the transport of minerals, particularly iron ore, to the coast, and improve connectivity for tribal and aspirational districts including Dhamtari, Kanker, Bastar, and Kondagaon, boosting access to markets and services for hundreds of thousands of people.Construction in Chhattisgarh is being carried out in phases: Jhanki–Sargi (42 km), Sargi–Vasanvahi (57 km), and Vasanvahi–Marangpuri (25 km), with varying stretches already completed. Officials said package-wise completion is projected between April and November 2026, after which the remaining work and integration with adjoining state stretches will determine the corridor’s full commissioning.