NHAI invests Rs 19,700 cr in wildlife protection along national highways

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invested around Rs 19,700 crore in wildlife mitigation infrastructure and environmental protection measures over the past five years, with more than 2,150 wildlife mitigation structures constructed or proposed along National Highways across the country.
NHAI released a document titled Wildlife Mitigation Measures & Structures to mark 'National Wildlife Week'.The document was recently released by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during the Chintan Shivir held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat.
The document outlines NHAI's efforts to integrate wildlife conservation into National Highway planning, design and implementation while balancing connectivity and mobility requirements with environmental sustainability.The mitigation measures aim to address challenges such as habitat fragmentation, barriers to wildlife movement and wildlife-vehicle collisions while ensuring safe traffic movement. Planning is guided by the ecological sensitivity of highway corridors, wildlife movement patterns and the technical feasibility of infrastructure designs.
Over 2,150 Wildlife Mitigation Structures
The document outlines a framework covering structural measures, including animal underpasses, overpasses, culverts and canopy crossings, along with non-structural interventions such as fencing, signage and speed regulation.The investment in various wildlife mitigation structures includes around Rs 4,600 crore for animal underpasses, Rs 650 crore for animal overpasses, Rs 8,300 crore for viaducts, Rs 2,800 crore for tunnels, Rs 2,500 crore for major bridges and Rs 500 crore for minor bridges.These structures are designed to facilitate safe wildlife movement across highway corridors and maintain ecological connectivity between habitats. NHAI has also introduced noise barriers, reptile crossings, rainwater harvesting systems and other wildlife management measures to minimise disturbance and improve habitat conditions.
Integrated Approach to Wildlife Protection
To guide animals towards designated crossing structures and reduce the risk of wildlife-vehicle collisions, guide fencing and noise barriers have been installed along more than 300 km of National Highway alignments.NHAI has also established monitoring mechanisms, including camera trapping, to study wildlife movement and periodically assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Collision-prone locations are identified, with speed-regulation boards and signages installed to reduce risks to wildlife and highway users.
Balancing Infrastructure Development with Conservation
The document emphasizes collaboration between conservation experts and agencies involved in National Highway development. It highlights the integration of wildlife mitigation measures at different stages of project planning and implementation, while adhering to statutory environmental compliance requirements.Covering recent initiatives and project implementations, the document serves as a reference framework detailing the wildlife mitigation measures and structures being adopted across National Highway projects. NHAI aims to support infrastructure expansion while accounting for biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.