Nepal Unveils First Wildlife Canopy Bridge Along Narayanghat–Butwal Highway

Nawalparasi, July 5: Nepal has introduced its first-ever overhead canopy bridge for wildlife as part of the Narayanghat–Butwal road expansion project, marking a significant step toward balancing infrastructure development with biodiversity conservation.

The canopy bridge has been constructed at Pitouji in the Gaindakot forest of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) to provide a safe crossing for monkeys, langurs, and other tree-dwelling wildlife without requiring them to descend onto the busy highway.

According to the Narayanghat–Butwal Road Expansion Project, the structure has been built under its Biodiversity Conservation and Promotion Programme to preserve the natural movement of wildlife while minimizing the environmental impact of road construction.

Project Information Officer and Engineer Shiv Khanal said the canopy bridge is the first of its kind to be incorporated into a road project in Nepal specifically for arboreal wildlife.

He said the initiative aims to reduce road accidents involving wild animals and vehicles while ensuring that species such as monkeys and langurs can continue moving freely across their habitat. Based on the bridge’s effectiveness and wildlife usage, similar structures may be installed in other suitable locations in future road projects.

The 113-kilometre Narayanghat–Butwal road expansion, financed through a concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is one of Nepal’s largest highway infrastructure projects. The project is being implemented in eastern and western sections.

According to the project office, the eastern section has achieved 92.38 percent physical progress as of June 2026, with blacktopping and concrete slope protection works largely completed.

Alongside road construction, the project also includes several environmental conservation measures such as wildlife-friendly crossings, drainage systems, roadside plantation, road safety improvements, and biodiversity protection initiatives.

Officials say the newly installed canopy bridge represents a milestone in integrating ecological conservation into major infrastructure projects and could serve as a model for future road development across Nepal.