A joint study by National Highways Authority of India and the Wildlife Institute of India has found that wildlife mitigation measures on the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor are working in practice.
The report, “Landscapes Reconnected”, tracked an 18 km stretch between Ganeshpur and Asharodi, which includes one of Asia’s largest elevated wildlife corridors. Designed to allow animals to move beneath the highway, the corridor aims to prevent fragmentation of forest habitats.
Using 150 camera traps, researchers recorded over 40,000 instances of animal movement across 18 species, including elephants, tigers, and deer. Notably, elephants were observed using the underpasses 60 times, indicating that even large mammals are able to navigate the infrastructure safely.
The findings show that well-designed transport infrastructure can maintain ecological connectivity, reducing the risk of wildlife populations becoming isolated due to highways.
Key Findings From the Monitoring Program
Species Diversity: 18 unique species were documented, including Golden Jackals (the most frequent users), Nilgai, Sambar, Spotted Deer, and even smaller mammals like the Indian Hare.
Elephant Crossings: The study recorded 60 instances of elephants navigating the underpasses, which stand 6 to 7 meters high to accommodate their size.
The Sound Factor: Researchers found that noise is a major deal-breaker. While some animals like wild boars don't mind traffic sounds, sensitive species like elephants and spotted deer only use the sections where noise levels are lower.
High-Tech Tracking: The team used 150 camera traps and 29 acoustic recorders over a 40-day period to get an accurate picture of animal behavior.
Corridor Design: Out of the 20 km forest stretch, nearly 11 km consists of animal underpasses, ensuring the forest floor remains mostly unobstructed.
What is a "Wildlife Mitigation Measure"?
A wildlife mitigation measure is a structure, such as an underpass or an elevated bridge, designed to help animals cross man-made barriers like highways safely. It is important because roads often cut through forests, which can lead to roadkill and stop animals from reaching food or finding mates. These structures help bridge the gap between "split-up habitats" and "connected landscapes," allowing nature to thrive even with a high-speed road nearby. For the NHAI, these measures are a key way to show that India's infrastructure growth can happen without destroying its wildlife and biodiversity.
Policy Relevance
Reduces Human-Wildlife Conflict: By giving animals a dedicated path, the corridor significantly lowers the chances of animals wandering onto the road, saving both human and animal lives.
Sets a Global Standard for Green Infrastructure: The success of this 11 km elevated stretch serves as a blueprint for future highway projects in other sensitive areas like the Western Ghats or the Northeast.
Informs Future Sound Engineering: Since the study proved that noise affects animal movement, NHAI is now looking at installing advanced sound barriers to make underpasses even more attractive to sensitive species.
Prevents "Population Isolation": By keeping the Shivalik landscape connected, the project ensures that tigers and elephants can maintain their natural migration patterns, which is vital for their long-term genetic health.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: With the study proving that noise is the biggest barrier for sensitive species, should future highway contracts in forest zones include "Maximum Permissible Decibel" limits for underpasses as a mandatory design standard?
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