NHAI Builds Indias First Wildlife Corridor On Delhi Mumbai Expressway
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has built India’s first dedicated wildlife corridor on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This innovative initiative, located near the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, marks a significant step towards harmonizing infrastructure development with environmental conservation. The 12-kilometer stretch is meticulously designed to facilitate the safe passage of wild animals, ensuring their undisturbed movement while accommodating the flow of vehicular traffic, setting a new precedent for highway construction in the country.
This groundbreaking wildlife corridor incorporates several unique features to achieve its environmental objectives. It includes five strategically placed wildlife overpasses, each extending 500 meters in length, allowing animals to cross above the highway. Complementing these overpasses is a substantial 1.2-kilometer underpass, making it the longest such dedicated passage in India. The project integrates robust eco-friendly practices, such as the installation of effective noise barriers and the construction of 4-meter-high boundary walls, specifically designed to deter animals from venturing onto the high-speed expressway, thereby enhancing safety for both wildlife and motorists alike.
Furthermore, the project prioritized ecological preservation throughout its construction. Approximately 35,000 trees were planted along the corridor, contributing to habitat restoration and green cover. To maintain the area’s natural topography, about 5 kilometers of the highway were built using elevated or sunken formats, minimizing disruption to the landscape. During the construction phase, workers diligently monitored animal movements, a proactive measure that remarkably resulted in no reported incidents involving wildlife. Post-completion camera footage has already captured compelling evidence of tigers and bears actively utilizing these dedicated passages, confirming the corridor’s effectiveness. The initiative also integrated sustainable practices like rainwater harvesting systems and drip irrigation to minimize water usage, along with modular formwork and low-waste construction methods.
This pioneering effort by NHAI sets a new national benchmark for future highway projects, demonstrating a strong commitment to balancing essential infrastructure development with critical biodiversity conservation. The successful implementation of India’s first dedicated wildlife corridor on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway serves as a powerful model for environmentally conscious engineering, paving the way for similar initiatives nationwide and fostering a more sustainable approach to national connectivity.
