Bhubaneswar, August 8:The Odisha government has decided to establish dedicated cattle shelters, or ‘Kine Houses’, along vulnerable stretches of national highways to prevent accidents caused by stray cattle and improve road safety.

Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik said on Saturday that the initiative would be implemented in coordination with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The proposed shelters will come up at intervals of around 100 metres along identified accident-prone stretches of national highways.

Under the proposed arrangement, the state government will be responsible for managing and maintaining the Kine Houses, while local police authorities will monitor their functioning and ensure that stray cattle are removed from the highways.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns over cattle wandering onto busy highways, particularly at night. Stray cattle on roadways pose a serious safety risk as motorists, especially those travelling at high speeds, often get little time to react when animals suddenly appear on the carriageway.

The problem has been reported on several major highway corridors in Odisha, including NH-16, one of the state's busiest road routes. The presence of cattle on the highway has frequently created risks for two-wheelers, cars and heavy vehicles.

According to officials, the proposed Kine Houses will provide safe shelter for stray and abandoned cattle collected from highways and surrounding areas. The government hopes that the initiative will prevent the animals from returning to the roads while also ensuring their proper care and management.

“The state government will manage the shelters and make arrangements for their maintenance. Local police will oversee enforcement and ensure that cattle are removed from vulnerable stretches of highways,” Mallik said.

The minister said the initiative would require coordinated efforts among the state government, NHAI, police and local authorities. Regular monitoring and timely removal of stray cattle will be key components of the proposed system.

The government expects the initiative to significantly reduce the risk of accidents involving stray cattle and make national highways safer for commuters and long-distance motorists. At the same time, the Kine Houses are expected to strengthen the state's mechanism for managing abandoned and stray cattle.