In a First, India Builds a Wildlife Corridor on a National Highway to Help Animals Cross Safely

India’s first dedicated wildlife corridor on a national highway is here. A 12 km stretch of the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway now lets animals like tigers and bears cross safely through forests.

Inaugurated on 28 June 2025, this corridor lies near the buffer zones of Rajaji and Ranthambore. It marks a new chapter in India’s journey towards wildlife-friendly infrastructure.

It features five overpasses and India’s longest highway underpass for animals — designed with the Wildlife Institute of India to minimise traffic conflict.

With sound barriers, rainwater harvesting, tree plantations and eco-friendly construction, this project shows how roads and wildlife can coexist.

By connecting forest patches between Ranthambore and the Chambal Valley, the corridor helps prevent animal deaths caused by vehicle collisions and protects biodiversity.

This pioneering project is part of a growing network. Across India, several other wildlife corridors across forest landscapes are protecting migratory paths and animal habitats.

1. Kanha-Pench corridor Other key corridors include the Kanha-Pench corridor in Madhya Pradesh, crucial for tiger movement and maintaining genetic diversity.

2. Kaziranga-West Karbi Anglong corridor The Kaziranga-West Karbi Anglong corridor in Assam supports elephants and rhinos, aiding migration across fragmented landscapes.

3. Nilgiri to Wayanad corridor In the Western Ghats, the Nilgiri to Wayanad corridor facilitates safe travel for elephants, tigers, and other endemic species.

4. Satpura-Maikal corridor The Satpura-Maikal corridor links forests across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, crucial for leopards, tigers, and gaur.

These corridors guide animals away from roads and villages, reducing conflict and saving lives — both human and wild.

Ongoing government and NGO efforts focus on monitoring corridors, restoring habitats, and involving local communities for long-term success.