Innovative Wildlife Overpasses on Expressway

Summary of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Initiative for Wildlife Protection

Project Overview:

• The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway features five innovative animal overpasses located within the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
• These structures, which are 500 meters long and connected by the road, are designed to facilitate the safe movement of wildlife and vehicles without disrupting either.
• This initiative is part of the 1,386-km-long Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, implemented by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana project initiated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
• The overpasses, along with a 1.2-km-long animal underpass, will be opened to the public within the next five months.

Design and Features:

• The mounds will be camouflaged with grass and shrubs, contributing to the seamless integration of wildlife passage with the expressway.
• Additional design features include noise barriers on the boundary wall and specially constructed sound-dampening Polyurethane (PU) mats on tunnel walls to reduce vehicular noise, which can be detrimental to animal behavior.
• The boundary wall is strategically built to be four meters high, supplemented with a two-meter noise barrier to minimize sound pollution.

Challenges and Compliance:

• The project encountered significant challenges, particularly in relocating a 765 kV high-tension power line that traversed the sensitive ecological area.
• Multiple wildlife encounters, including bears and tigers, highlighted the importance of ensuring safety for both animals and workers during construction.
• Strict compliance with environmental regulations and continuous coordination with forest authorities were mandatory during the project's development. Cameras were installed every kilometer to monitor animal movement.

Project Timeline and Current Status:

• As of December 2023, the expressway construction has reached substantial completion, with 82 percent of the project finished. However, the overall deadline has been revised from March 2023 to October 2023.
• Future traffic projections anticipate around one lakh Passenger Car Units (PCUs) utilizing this section within the next four to five years.

Economic Significance:

• The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a critical infrastructure project expected to enhance connectivity between significant economic hubs across multiple states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
• The expressway will reduce the distance between Delhi and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) near Mumbai by approximately 180 km, translating into a travel time reduction of up to 50%.

Notable Remarks:

• The initial project plans made in 2020 did not include these animal overpasses; however, the NHAI incorporated feedback from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to improve ecological considerations within the infrastructure design.
• Pardeep Atri, regional officer of NHAI in Jaipur, mentioned the delicate balance required to navigate challenges posed by the eco-sensitive zone and the responsibility to safeguard wildlife during construction operations.

Key Points:

• Innovative Design: Five animal overpasses aimed at wildlife safety on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
• Environmental Measures: Sound-dampening technologies and camouflage strategies for overpasses.
• Project Compliance: Strict adherence to environmental laws and extensive monitoring of wildlife.
• Timeline: Completion expected five months post-December 2023, with a new deadline for the overall project set to October 2023.
• Economic Impact: Significant reduction in distance and travel time between Delhi and Mumbai, facilitating better connectivity among major Indian states.