A highway project cutting through the ecologically sensitive Sengottai (Aryankavu) Gap in the Western Ghats has raised worries among conservationists. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is seeking wildlife clearance for the project, which is part of the Puliyarai-Aryankavu-Kadampattukonam economic corridor under the Bharatmala program.
The corridor aims to enhance freight connectivity between Tamil Nadu and the Kerala coast by linking NH-744 (Kollam-Madurai) with NH-66 (Mumbai-Kanniyakumari). Covering a total of 61.7 km, the project’s critical segment is a 23-km stretch between Puliyarai in Tenkasi district and Edamon in Kollam district, with 19 km in Kerala and 4 km in Tamil Nadu.
The Sengottai (Aryankavu) Gap is at the heart of the debate, serving as a crucial ecological pathway connecting forest habitats across state borders. This area is part of the Agasthyamalai landscape, linking key protected areas like the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Tiger Reserve, and the Peppara and Neyyar sanctuaries.
