Nitin Gadkari Wants Bahu Balli Fence On Indian Highways; What Is The Purpose?

New Delhi: The Central government is planning to implement a Bahu Balli Cattle Fence along highways in India to prevent cattle from crossing the road and causing dangerous accidents, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways on Wednesday. The Bahu Balli cattle fence will be 1.20 metres high and will be installed on Section 23 of National Highway-30 to start with as a comprehensive solution, said Gadkari.
Gadkari shared this information via his Twitter handle, adding, “This installation will serve as a demonstration before the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chattisgarh.”

While sharing the pictures of the fence, Gadkari said that the cattle fence, constructed using bamboo, offers an effective and environmentally-friendly solution to prevent cattle from accidents. He said, “The bamboo is treated with creosote oil and coated with HDPE, making it a stronger alternative to steel.” The fence has a fire rating of Class 1, ensuring safety and longevity. The aim of the Bahu Balli cattle fence is to make all highways sustainable and minimize harm to wildlife and cattle, added Gadkari.

Meanwhile, a 200-metre bamboo crash barrier had been installed by the government on the Vani-Warora Highway in Vidarbha, connecting Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts in Maharashtra, Times of India reported.
Nitin Cadkari said that the Bamboo Crash Barrier underwent rigorous testing at various government-run institutions, such as the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Pithampur, Indore and was rated as Class I during the Fire Rating Test conducted at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee.

The barrier has been accredited by the Indian Road Congress. The recycling value of bamboo barriers is 50-70 per cent, while that of steel barriers is 30-50 per cent, the minister added.