Roar-ing Success: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway's Wildlife Haven

In a landmark move for eco-sensitive infrastructure, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed the country’s first dedicated wildlife corridor along a 12-km stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This section, passing through the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, features five dedicated overpasses and India’s longest wildlife underpass to ensure safe passage for animals across the high-speed corridor.

This initiative marks the first time an Indian expressway has been designed with a dual objective: enabling fast, modern transport while actively preserving wildlife movement and habitat continuity. Planned in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the corridor is located in a biologically sensitive zone between Ranthambore National Park and the Chambal Valley—home to tigers, sloth bears, antelopes, and other native species.

Key features include five 500-meter-long overpasses, a 1.2-km underpass for large mammals, and nearly 5 km of elevated or recessed roadway designed to minimize disruption to natural landscapes. Additionally, four-meter-high boundary walls and sound barriers have been installed to prevent animal intrusion and reduce noise pollution.

Remarkably, no wildlife casualties were reported during construction—thanks to rigorous monitoring and carefully implemented mitigation measures.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.