India has introduced its first animal overpass, built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) along the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. This 12-kilometre stretch runs through the buffer zone of Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and includes five overpasses to support the safe movement of wildlife such as tigers, bears, and other endangered species.
“This 12-kilometre stretch was one of the most challenging sections of the entire Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. It falls within the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to highly diversified flora and fauna. So, during both construction and post-construction operations, we had to be extremely cautious to ensure that the natural habitat of the animals could coexist with the highway,” an NHAI official stated.
Details about the animal overpass on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
To ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife, the NHAI, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, included several protective features: a four-meter-high boundary wall, noise barriers to block out traffic sounds, and planted a whopping 35,000 trees. Additionally, rainwater harvesting systems have been installed every 500 meters to support water conservation efforts. The drip irrigation method was also used to make sure the loss of water was 50% less than usual during the process of maintenance and landscaping.
Taking a sustainable approach during the construction of this project, low-waste construction protocols were used to keep to a minimum the ecological footprint. Further, strict safety measures were enforced to ensure zero loss of animal life during construction. The project was placed under 24/7 monitoring and had personnel stationed every 200 meters to ensure safety.
According to an NHAI statement, “This is India’s longest animal overpass corridor. We have maintained 2.5 kilometres of the stretch in complete alignment with the natural terrain, making it the longest wildlife overpass of its kind in the country.”