The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has established the nation’s inaugural dedicated wildlife corridor along a national highway. This notable initiative involves the construction of a 12-kilometre segment that integrates wildlife conservation with contemporary infrastructure, forming part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and traversing the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. This corridor represents a pioneering effort in India, where an expressway has been designed to accommodate not only vehicular traffic but also to guarantee a safe and uninterrupted passage for wildlife.
The area includes five specialized wildlife overpasses, each measuring 500 meters in length, along with a 1.2-kilometre underpass, making it the longest corridor of its kind in India to date. This segment is strategically positioned between Ranthambore and the Chambal Valley, a biologically diverse region abundant with tigers, bears, antelopes, and various other species.
This 12-kilometre segment was among the most challenging portions of the entire Delhi-Mumbai Expressway,” remarked Pradeep Attri, Regional Officer of NHAI. It is situated within the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, which hosts a highly diverse range of flora and fauna. We had to exercise extreme caution during both construction and operational phases to ensure that the natural habitat remained undisturbed.
With the oversight of the Wildlife Institute of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, NHAI implemented numerous wildlife-friendly features. The five overpasses and the extensive underpass were built while maintaining the natural contours of the land, facilitating the free movement of animals between forested regions without human disruption. To enhance safety further, approximately 5 kilometres of the highway were constructed in either elevated or sunken formats to preserve the topography of the area.
A boundary wall, standing 4 meters high, was constructed on both sides of the stretch to deter animals from inadvertently entering the highway, while 2-meter sound barriers were installed to mitigate traffic noise that might disrupt the wildlife. It’s difficult to comprehend while standing above the corridor, Attri remarked, “but the expressway actually lies beneath us. This entire structure is designed for the animals.
Throughout the construction phase, the area frequently observed wildlife movement. To ensure safety, workers were positioned every 200 meters to monitor the situation and avert any incidents. Notably, reports indicate that not a single wildlife-related incident transpired during the entire project. Since its completion, camera traps have already documented tigers and bears utilizing the passages, just as intended. Eco-friendly practices were incorporated into every facet of the construction.
Approximately 35,000 trees were planted along the corridor, rainwater harvesting systems were established at 500-meter intervals, and drip irrigation was utilized to reduce water consumption by 50%. Furthermore, modular formwork and low-waste construction techniques were employed to lessen the environmental impact.
