18 Wildlife Species Use Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Underpass Near Haridwar

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have documented 18 wildlife species, including elephants and leopards, utilizing a 12-km underpass on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway near Haridwar. This critical infrastructure aims to prevent habitat fragmentation as the highway opens on April 14, 2026.

Modern infrastructure often presents a binary choice: economic acceleration or ecological preservation. For decades, the construction of high-speed corridors through reserved forests has been viewed as a death sentence for local biodiversity, creating “island populations” where animals are trapped by concrete barriers, leading to genetic stagnation and increased roadkill. The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, a 213-km artery connecting Akshardham in Delhi to Dehradun, represents an attempt to break this binary.

The problem is systemic. When a highway bisects a primary migratory route, the result is often a spike in human-wildlife conflict. Animals, desperate to reach traditional feeding or mating grounds, venture into human settlements or attempt to cross lethal lanes of traffic.

To mitigate this, the project implemented one of Asia’s largest wildlife elevated corridors. This is not merely a bridge, but a strategic environmental valve designed to allow nature to flow beneath the wheels of commerce.

The ‘Landscapes Reconnected’ Evidence

The success of this intervention is not based on hope, but on rigorous data. A joint study titled ‘Landscapes Reconnected: First Evidence of Wildlife Movement across the World’s Largest Animal Viaduct on NH-72 (Asharodi–Ganeshpur)’ has provided the first empirical proof that the infrastructure is working. The monitoring exercise was exhaustive, spanning 40 days and utilizing a sophisticated array of technology including 29 AudioMoth acoustic recorders and systematically deployed camera traps.

The results were staggering. Analysts processed over 1.1 lakh images to verify movement. The study focused on an 18-km stretch between Ganeshpur in Uttar Pradesh and Asharodi on the outskirts of Dehradun, which features a 12-km long animal underpass. This specific section of the expressway arches over the Mohand area, cutting through the sensitive Rajaji and Shivalik forest divisions.

The diversity of species recorded indicates that the underpass is serving as a general-purpose corridor rather than a niche path for a few animals. The 18 species identified include a broad spectrum of fauna: carnivores, herbivores, ungulates, primates, and pheasants.

Among the documented inhabitants were:

• Large Mammals: Elephants (recorded using the corridor on at least 60 occasions), Leopards, and Sambar.
• Ungulates and Herbivores: Nilgai, Spotted Deer (Chital), and the Indian Hare.
• Small Carnivores and Others: Golden Jackals (the most frequently captured species), Wild Boar, and Peacocks.

The fact that elephants—massive, cautious animals—navigated the structure 60 times suggests that the design successfully mimics a natural environment, maintaining the animals’ natural movement patterns despite the roar of traffic overhead.

Engineering for Coexistence

The architecture of the underpass is a response to the specific needs of the region’s endangered species, including tigers and king cobras. The animal underpass is designed to facilitate unobstructed movement, with the road elevated seven meters above the ground. This vertical separation ensures that the wildlife below is physically and psychologically isolated from the vehicles above.

The study area was strategically divided into three distinct zones to measure effectiveness. Zone I covered a 5.43 km stretch between Ganeshpur and Mohand, while Zone II and III continued the assessment across the remaining distance. This granular approach allowed the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Highway Authority of India to analyze exactly which factors influenced the usage of the underpasses by different species.

“Conducted along an 18 km stretch of Delhi – Dehradun Economic Corridor between Ganeshpur and Asharodi, the study was undertaken with the objective of assessing patterns of underpass leverage by wildlife, factors affecting usage of underpasses by different wild species and effectiveness of the underpasses.”

This level of planning is no longer optional. As urban sprawl consumes more natural territory, the role of certified environmental consultants becomes paramount. These professionals ensure that the “viaduct” approach is integrated into the blueprint from day one, rather than added as an afterthought to appease regulatory bodies.

Regional Implications and the Path Forward

The Rajaji and Shivalik forest divisions are not just local woods; they are critical biodiversity hotspots. By maintaining the connectivity of these landscapes, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway avoids creating a biological wall. This has direct implications for the regional economy, and safety. Reduced human-wildlife conflict means fewer crop raids by elephants and fewer dangerous encounters on local roads, which historically have plagued the Haridwar district.

Still, the long-term success of such projects requires constant vigilance. The transition from a 40-day study to permanent monitoring is essential to ensure the underpasses do not become “death traps” or are not blocked by human encroachment.

Navigating the legal requirements for such projects—where national highways intersect with protected forest lands—is an immense challenge. Developers and government agencies are increasingly relying on specialized environmental law firms to ensure that every kilometer of road complies with the Forest Conservation Act and other stringent wildlife protections.

The project’s inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14, 2026, marks a milestone in Indian infrastructure. It proves that high-speed connectivity does not have to come at the cost of extinction.

The “Landscapes Reconnected” study serves as a blueprint for future corridors across Asia. If People can move 1.1 lakh images of wildlife safely crossing under a highway, we can redefine the relationship between the asphalt and the earth. The real test, however, begins tomorrow when the first wave of commuter traffic meets the silent migration of the forest below. To ensure such balance is maintained in future developments, finding verified wildlife conservation organizations and urban planners is the only way to guarantee that progress doesn’t leave the natural world behind.