NHAI and WII Study Highlights Effectiveness of Wildlife Mitigation Measures on Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor

The NHAI–WII study on the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor is a landmark in sustainable infrastructure. Here are the key insights from the report “Landscapes Reconnected”:

Study Highlights
- Conducted along the 18 km Ganeshpur–Asharodi section.
- Used 150 camera traps and 29 acoustic recorders over 40 days.
- Captured 111,234 images, of which 40,444 showed 18 unique wild species using the underpasses.
- Frequent users: Golden Jackal, Nilgai, Sambar, Spotted Deer.
- Notably, 60 elephant crossings were documented, proving even large mammals can safely navigate the structures.

Infrastructure & Ecology
- Features 10.97 km of animal underpasses, including Asia’s largest elevated wildlife corridor (6–7 meters high).
- Divided into three zones:
- Zone I: Ganeshpur–Mohand (5.43 km)
- Zone II: Mohand–Asharodi (9.80 km)
- Zone III: Asharodi–Mohabewala (3.14 km)

Soundscape Management
- Generalist species (jackals, wild boar) tolerate traffic noise.
- Sensitive species (elephants, spotted deer) prefer quieter segments.
- Noise barriers are recommended to further improve passage for sensitive wildlife.

Broader Impact
- Reduces human–wildlife conflict and prevents population isolation in the Shivalik landscape.
- Demonstrates that highway development can coexist with biodiversity conservation.
- Sets a precedent for integrating green infrastructure into future national highway projects.

This study is a powerful example of how engineering and ecology can align to protect wildlife while enabling economic growth.