Jamshedpur, July 10: The long delayed Pardih Baliguma elevated corridor project received a major boost after the Jharkhand Government recommended the diversion of 2.1812 hectares of protected forest land clearing one of the biggest obstacles to the construction of the ambitious highway project.
The proposal has been forwarded to the Regional Office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Ranchi for final approval.
The 10.02-km four/six-lane elevated corridor on NH-18 (formerly NH-33), stretching from Pardih Kali Mandir to Baliguma via Dimna Chowk is being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at an estimated cost of ₹936 crore. The construction contract has been awarded to HG Infra Engineering Limited.
Once operational, the elevated corridor will divert heavy commercial vehicles travelling towards Odisha and Kolkata away from congested city roads, providing significant relief to traffic in Pardih, Mango and Dimna. Authorities expect the project to reduce travel time on the stretch to around 8–10 minutes while improving road safety and traffic flow.
The state government’s recommendation for forest land diversion is subject to several conditions. The executing agency will be required to deposit the Net Present Value (NPV) and compensatory afforestation charges and comply with the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and wildlife protection norms.
The project had witnessed repeated delays due to pending forest clearance, utility shifting, tree-felling permissions and local protests over dust pollution. The approval process was further prolonged because parts of the corridor fall near the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and an important elephant corridor, necessitating wildlife clearance.
With the state’s recommendation now in place, officials expect the remaining approvals to be processed more quickly, paving the way for faster construction. Once completed, the corridor is expected to significantly improve road connectivity between Jamshedpur, Odisha and Kolkata while offering long term relief from chronic traffic congestion in the city.
