India’s Longest Wildlife Overpass Corridor Unveiled on Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.

National

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) recently inaugurated a 12 km-long wildlife corridor on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway near Ranthambore. It includes five animal overpasses and a 1.2 km underpass, making it India’s longest eco-sensitive expressway section.


      - Located in the Ranthambore–Chambal buffer zone, this corridor features five 500 m animal bridges and a 1.2 km underpass to facilitate safe movement for tigers, bears, and other wildlife.

      - Approximately 5 km of the expressway was built elevated or sunken to blend with the landscape. High boundary walls and sound barriers minimize noise pollution and reduce wildlife intrusion.

      - Developed with guidance from the Wildlife Institute of India and MoEF, the corridor aligns with habitat contours, and tree planation ensures a natural cover, encouraging animal usage.

Main Point :-   (i) Over 35,000 native trees were planted; rainwater harvesting every 500 m; drip irrigation reduced water use by over 50%; low-waste modular construction adopted.

      (ii) Camera traps have already captured sightings of tigers and bears using the overpasses—showing the corridor’s effectiveness and marking a milestone in green infrastructure.


About National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

Chairman: Santosh Kumar Yadav (IAS)
Headquarters: New Delhi
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