The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has built the nation’s first wildlife overpass corridor on a national highway, marking a historic accomplishment that combines environmental preservation with advancements in infrastructure. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway’s 12-kilometer section travels through the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. It features India’s first animal corridor on a national highway, with five specialized wildlife overpasses and the country’s longest underpass, ensuring safe animal migration.

This is the first time an expressway in India has been specifically engineered to support both wildlife and automobile traffic. The Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Wildlife Institute of India collaborated on the project. The zone, situated between the ecologically rich regions of Ranthambore and the Chambal Valley, is home to a variety of species, like tigers, elephants, leopards, and bears.

Wildlife Safety and Engineering Innovations

This was one of the most technologically difficult sections of the whole highway, according to Pradeep Attri, NHAI Regional Officer. He said that in order to guarantee that the animals’ natural habitat was not impacted, the crew took great care both before and after construction.

The 500-meter-long wildlife overpasses were built to follow the land’s natural contours, minimizing ecological disruption. In addition, a 1.2-kilometer underpass was constructed to accommodate larger animals. Around 5 kilometers of the highway in this stretch were either elevated or recessed to maintain the natural terrain. A 4-meter-tall wall and 2-meter sound barriers were put in place to keep animals off the road and to cut down on traffic noise.

Attri mentioned that workers were stationed every 200 meters to monitor animal activity and prevent accidents. He confirmed that no untoward incidents occurred during the project, despite the area being highly sensitive.

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Post-Construction Monitoring and Broader Impact

Attri reported that several instances of bear and tiger movement have already been captured through camera traps. He highlighted that India’s first animal corridor on a national highway includes a 2.5-kilometer stretch developed in complete harmony with the natural landscape, making it the longest wildlife overpass of its kind in the country.

The project incorporated eco-friendly elements, including the planting of 35,000 trees, rainwater harvesting systems, and low-waste modular construction techniques. As of June 27, 2025, NHAI’s initiative is seen as a progressive effort to connect ecological sensitivity with national infrastructure.

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