NHAI Constructs India's First Animal Overpass on Delhi-Mumbai E-way
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

NHAI Constructs India's First Animal Overpass on Delhi-Mumbai E-way

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed the country's first dedicated wildlife corridor on a national highway, marking a significant milestone in integrating infrastructure development with environmental conservation. This 12-kilometre stretch, part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, passes through the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and includes five wildlife overpasses along with India's longest underpass designed for the safe movement of animals.

This is the first instance where an expressway in India has been designed with a dual focus—facilitating human transportation while ensuring the protection of wildlife habitats and the safe passage of endangered species such as tigers and bears.

The corridor was planned and developed in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. It lies in an ecologically rich area between Ranthambore and the Chambal Valley, which is home to a diverse range of wildlife.

The 12-kilometre section posed considerable challenges due to its location in the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary's buffer zone, an area known for its biodiversity. Special measures were taken during both construction and operational phases to ensure the natural habitats remained undisturbed.

Five dedicated wildlife overpasses, each 500 meters long, were constructed while preserving the natural contours of the land to allow free movement of animals. In addition, a 1.2-kilometre underpass was built for large mammals, and nearly 5 kilometres of the highway were either elevated or built below ground level to maintain the terrain’s integrity. To further protect the wildlife, a 4-meter-high boundary wall and 2-meter-high sound barriers were installed to prevent animals from straying onto the road and to reduce stress caused by traffic noise.

During construction, the area saw frequent animal movement. To prevent any harm to the wildlife, personnel were stationed every 200 meters to ensure animals did not enter active construction zones. Notably, no wildlife casualties occurred during the entire construction phase. Post-construction monitoring has captured several sightings of tigers and bears using the overpasses and underpass, validating the success of the initiative.

The corridor includes India’s longest continuous wildlife overpass, with a 2.5-kilometre stretch seamlessly aligned with the natural terrain, setting a national benchmark in wildlife infrastructure.

The project also incorporated numerous eco-friendly practices. Approximately 35,000 trees were planted along the stretch, and rainwater harvesting systems were placed every 500 meters. Drip irrigation systems helped cut water use by over 50 per cent. Moreover, sustainable construction techniques, including modular formwork and low-waste methods, were employed to reduce the environmental footprint.

This initiative sets a new precedent for eco-sensitive infrastructure in India, offering a model for future highway projects that aim to balance development with ecological preservation.

News source: ANI

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed the country's first dedicated wildlife corridor on a national highway, marking a significant milestone in integrating infrastructure development with environmental conservation. This 12-kilometre stretch, part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, passes through the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and includes five wildlife overpasses along with India's longest underpass designed for the safe movement of animals.This is the first instance where an expressway in India has been designed with a dual focus—facilitating human transportation while ensuring the protection of wildlife habitats and the safe passage of endangered species such as tigers and bears.The corridor was planned and developed in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. It lies in an ecologically rich area between Ranthambore and the Chambal Valley, which is home to a diverse range of wildlife.The 12-kilometre section posed considerable challenges due to its location in the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary's buffer zone, an area known for its biodiversity. Special measures were taken during both construction and operational phases to ensure the natural habitats remained undisturbed.Five dedicated wildlife overpasses, each 500 meters long, were constructed while preserving the natural contours of the land to allow free movement of animals. In addition, a 1.2-kilometre underpass was built for large mammals, and nearly 5 kilometres of the highway were either elevated or built below ground level to maintain the terrain’s integrity. To further protect the wildlife, a 4-meter-high boundary wall and 2-meter-high sound barriers were installed to prevent animals from straying onto the road and to reduce stress caused by traffic noise.During construction, the area saw frequent animal movement. To prevent any harm to the wildlife, personnel were stationed every 200 meters to ensure animals did not enter active construction zones. Notably, no wildlife casualties occurred during the entire construction phase. Post-construction monitoring has captured several sightings of tigers and bears using the overpasses and underpass, validating the success of the initiative.The corridor includes India’s longest continuous wildlife overpass, with a 2.5-kilometre stretch seamlessly aligned with the natural terrain, setting a national benchmark in wildlife infrastructure.The project also incorporated numerous eco-friendly practices. Approximately 35,000 trees were planted along the stretch, and rainwater harvesting systems were placed every 500 meters. Drip irrigation systems helped cut water use by over 50 per cent. Moreover, sustainable construction techniques, including modular formwork and low-waste methods, were employed to reduce the environmental footprint.This initiative sets a new precedent for eco-sensitive infrastructure in India, offering a model for future highway projects that aim to balance development with ecological preservation.News source: ANI

Next Story
Technology

AirBrick Infra Sets Rs 1 billion Target, Expands to Dubai and Tier-II Cities

AirBrick Infra, one of India’s fastest-growing AI-led commercial interior design and build firms, has announced a sales order target of Rs 1 billion for FY 2025–26. The projection represents a 50 per cent growth over the previous fiscal year and reflects rising demand, increased repeat business, and the company's robust tech-first delivery model.  Now in its third year of operations, AirBrick continues its rapid scale-up, having successfully delivered over 70 projects spanning 3 lakh sq ft in FY 2023–24. FY 2024–25 witnessed the onboarding of several Fortune 500 clients, sett..

Next Story
Resources

Virtusa Foundation Powers Green Education Drive in Bengaluru

The Virtusa Foundation, CSR arm of digital engineering and technology leader Virtusa Corporation, has announced key infrastructure and mobility initiatives at the Ramakrishna Mission, Shivanahalli, Bengaluru. The launch marks the inauguration of a 16-room residential facility for lady teachers and the deployment of two solar-powered electric buses, underscoring Virtusa’s commitment to its core pillars of Education, Environment and Empowerment (3Es).  Located on the forest fringe near Bannerghatta National Park, the initiative supports tribal and underserved communities, complementi..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Godrej Enterprises Drives India’s Smart Green Logistics Shift

As India accelerates its transformation into a global manufacturing and logistics hub, Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG) is taking the lead with its smart, sustainable intralogistics solutions. Through its Material Handling Equipment (MHE) and Storage Solutions businesses, GEG is redefining operational efficiency in modern warehouses and factories using IoT, automation, and AI. GEG has consistently maintained a 20–25 per cent market share in the intralogistics sector over the past three years. Today, over 37 per cent of GEG’s revenues come from its Good & Green portfolio, and its net..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?