Delhi Mumbai Expressway: Safe Crossing For Animals a Reality Now, First 12 KM Wildlife Corridor Built

Delhi Mumbai Expressway: In a landmark step towards wildlife conservation, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has successfully built India’s first 12-kilometre dedicated wildlife corridor on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Ranthambore National Park. Designed to ensure safe passage for animals like tigers, leopards, and deer, the corridor includes five 500-metre-long overpasses and a 1.2-km underpass, enabling unhindered movement of wildlife across the expressway without entering human traffic zones.

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Minimal Disturbance to Wildlife

NHAI Regional Officer Pradeep Attri confirmed that the corridor has been developed in close coordination with wildlife experts and features 35,000 native trees, soundproofing barriers, and a terrain-sensitive layout to ensure minimal disruption. During construction, authorities ensured that no harm came to animals, and recent monitoring has already documented multiple species using the safe crossings.

Eco-Friendly Design Features

Jointly developed with the Wildlife Institute of India and approved by the Union Environment Ministry, the corridor boasts rainwater harvesting every 500 metres, drip irrigation, and modular construction techniques that reduce both water usage and construction waste. These green features make it one of India’s most eco-sensitive highway infrastructure projects.

Setting a National Benchmark

Officials note that the success of this corridor could serve as a model for future expressway projects in wildlife-sensitive areas. Plans are underway to integrate similar corridors in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Conservationists have welcomed the move, calling it a “game-changing” blend of development and ecological responsibility.