The construction work of three underpasses along an elephant corridor on the NH-33 stretch between Jamshedpur and Chandil has gained momentum.

The three underpasses are coming up at Saherbera, Kanderbera and Ramgarh, all within 20km of Jamshedpur.

"The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has sped up work significantly at Saherbera. The construction of the underpass at Kanderbera has also made progress. NHAI initiated the construction work of the underpasses after getting necessary forest nod," said Chandra Mauli Prasad Sinha, deputy conservator of forest and field director, Elephant Project (Jamshedpur) talking to The Telegraph Online.

He said the underpasses are being constructed to prevent man-animal conflict along the elephant corridor, as tuskers often find their way onto the-busy NH-33.

"The underpasses are being constructed as per the specified design," he said, adding that strict guidelines laid down by the Union ministry of environment are to be followed.

He said the three places where the underpasses are being constructed would be declared 'No honking' zones, so as not to disturb the elephants, as the tusker corridor falls in an eco-sensitive zone.

A Dalma forest ranger revealed that on several occasions in the past, traffic on the busy NH-33 connecting Jamshedpur with Ranchi had to be stopped for facilitating the movement of elephants.

"Sometimes, due to disturbances, elephants move into the human habitat damaging crops and other property. This can be avoided with the construction of the underpasses, " he said.

In September last year, widening work on the 15km stretch of NH-33 along the Dalma sanctuary began after the Union ministry of environment and forest granted a wildlife clearance pending for over two years.

Sources in the Jharkhand road construction department said the clearance was pending due to a delay in submission of structural designs for underpasses at elephant corridors of the area.