Gau Sadan set up near Kiratpur-Manali highway tunnel to curb accidents caused by stray cattle

In a significant step towards improving animal welfare and highway safety, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has constructed a Gau Sadan along the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway to provide shelter to stray cattle and reduce accident risks.

The facility has been built near the main entrance of Tunnel No. 4 close to Baloh in Bilaspur district. It comprises two separate sheds with a capacity of 50 animals each, enabling accommodation for up to 100 stray cattle at a time. Adequate arrangements for shade, fodder, drinking water and regular care have been put in place to ensure a safe and humane environment for the animals, preventing them from wandering onto busy roads and tunnel approaches.

Varun Chari, Project Director of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway, said the entire operation and maintenance cost of the Gau Sadan was being borne by Gawar Construction Company, the concessionaire executing the project. An MoU has been signed between NHAI and the company for this purpose.

He said the initiative was crucial in preventing accidents caused by stray cattle, particularly near tunnels where visibility and reaction time for motorists are limited.

According to NHAI officials, this is the first such initiative undertaken by the authority anywhere in the country, setting a new benchmark in integrating animal welfare measures with highway safety planning. They said the facility has already led to a noticeable reduction in cattle movement near the tunnel, improving traffic flow and commuter safety.

Chari said the Gau Sadan had been partially made operational, adding that arrangements for a veterinary ambulance and medical staff would be put in place shortly. He confirmed that the required infrastructure for medical services had already been developed and full-scale operations would begin soon.

NHAI officials believe the model can be replicated on other national highways and tunnel zones across the country, particularly in hilly and accident-prone regions. By combining compassionate animal management with infrastructure planning, the initiative is expected to significantly reduce accident risks on one of Himachal Pradesh’s busiest highway corridors.