Delhi - Dehradun Economic Corridor
Context:
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) recently released a joint report titled "Landscapes Reconnected".
The study provides the first empirical evidence of wildlife successfully utilizing the newly constructed animal underpasses on the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor, demonstrating that major infrastructure development can coexist with the preservation of ecologically sensitive areas.
Features of the Corridor:
Built at a cost of ₹12,000 crore, this 213-km, 6-lane expressway is designed to drastically reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from six hours to just 2.5 hours.
The corridor will provide seamless connectivity to other major routes, including the Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Katra, and Delhi-Meerut expressways.
The overall project, originally inaugurated in December 2021 with a broader investment of ₹18,000 crore, aims to boost tourism in Uttarakhand and make travel significantly smoother and safer.
Ecological Mitigation Measures:
As the expressway cuts directly through the Rajaji and Shivalik forest divisions, a dedicated 12-km animal underpass has been constructed near Dehradun.
Recognized as one of Asia's largest elevated wildlife corridors, it facilitates unobstructed animal movement with a seven-meter vertical clearance below the road.
The Shivalik landscape serves as a critical habitat for several endangered species, including tigers, elephants, greater hornbills, and king cobras.
Findings of the NHAI-WII Study:
Species Movement:
Conducted over 40 days along an 18-km stretch between Ganeshpur and Asharodi, the study captured 40,444 images of 18 unique wild species utilizing the underpass.
Adaptation and Sensitivity:
Species like the Golden Jackal, Nilgai, Sambar, and Wild Boar have shown signs of habituation to traffic noise.
However, sensitive species such as elephants and spotted deer selectively utilized underpass segments with lower sound levels.
To mitigate human-wildlife conflict and prevent population isolation, NHAI will deploy targeted sound barriers in high-frequency crossing areas to enhance safe passage for noise-sensitive fauna.