Wildlife gets priority on national expressway
India unveils its longest animal overpass corridor on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: India has taken a major step towards eco-sensitive infrastructure by building its first animal overpass corridor on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This 12-kilometre stretch passes through the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve’s buffer zone in Rajasthan.
The project is led by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), making it a model for integrating conservation into expressway planning. It includes five wildlife overpasses, each about 500 metres long, and India’s longest underpass for wildlife, spanning 1.2 kilometres.
Key features of the project
This is the first time in India a national expressway was designed with wildlife conservation at its core. The corridor enables the safe movement of species like tigers, leopards, and sloth bears, reducing the risk of roadkill and conflicts.
The infrastructure includes:
- Five elevated overpasses
- One 1.2-kilometre-long underpass
- 4-metre-high boundary walls
- 2-metre sound barriers
- Terrain-matching road alignment using sunken and elevated sections
Static GK fact: The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, once complete, will be India’s longest expressway, running over 1,386 km.
Strong focus on ecological balance
What makes the corridor unique is the natural contour-based design. The overpasses were built to blend with the forest terrain, ensuring minimal disturbance to natural movement patterns.
During construction, workers were stationed every 200 metres to ensure no harm came to wildlife. Monitoring through hidden cameras has already shown usage by tigers and bears, validating the success of the corridor.
Static GK Tip: The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, located in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, was declared a Project Tiger Reserve in 1973.
Green features added to the project
In addition to animal crossings, the stretch includes:
- 35,000 trees planted
- Rainwater harvesting systems
- Modular construction to reduce waste
These eco-measures highlight a new approach to national road building—prioritising sustainability alongside development.
A national trend in wildlife corridors
Other Indian states are also moving in the same direction. Punjab is planning its first urban wildlife corridor via the Zirakpur bypass project. Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Samruddhi Mahamarg includes 209 animal underpasses and 8 wildlife over/underpasses.
This shift shows India’s growing commitment to green infrastructure that respects wildlife corridors while expanding national highways.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India unveils its longest animal overpass corridor on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway:
| Topic | Detail |
| Location | Ranthambore buffer zone, Delhi-Mumbai Expressway |
| Total Wildlife Structures | 5 overpasses, 1 underpass (1.2 km) |
| Significance | First expressway designed around wildlife movement |
| Underpass Length | 1.2 km (longest in India) |
| Trees Planted | 35,000 along the corridor |
| Monitoring Method | Hidden cameras tracking animal movement |
| Agencies Involved | NHAI, Wildlife Institute of India, Ministry of Environment |
| Sound Barriers | 2 metres high to reduce noise disturbance |
| Related Projects | Samruddhi Mahamarg (Maharashtra), Zirakpur Corridor (Punjab) |
| Conservation Goal | Reduce roadkill and animal-human conflict |
