India Unveils Wildlife-Safe Highway Model with First Red-Marked Eco-Sensitive Zone

The innovative measures have been implemented on a 2.0 km ghat section of an 11.96 km highway corridor traversing one of central India’s ecologically sensitive forest belts.

 

As India accelerates its national highway construction under the stewardship of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), a parallel push is emerging—to build infrastructure that protects people, wildlife, and ecosystems with equal priority. A landmark initiative on a National Highway stretch passing through the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh showcases how thoughtful engineering can harmonise mobility with environmental stewardship.

A Safer Passage Through a Tiger Reserve

The innovative measures have been implemented on a 2.0 km ghat section of an 11.96 km highway corridor traversing one of central India’s ecologically sensitive forest belts. This stretch, located inside the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (formerly Nauradehi Sanctuary), is known for frequent wildlife movement, steep gradients, and sharp curves—elements that make both animal and human safety a pressing concern.

India’s First ‘Table-Top Red Marking’: A New Alert System for Drivers

In a first for Indian highways, NHAI has introduced a table-top red surface marking, drawing cues from international practices such as Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road. This intervention involves:

• A 5 mm hot-applied thermoplastic red layer laid across the carriageway

• A slightly raised texture that creates gentle vibration and sound feedback

• Bright, high-visibility colour that signals entry into a regulated, wildlife-sensitive zone

The design reduces vehicular speeds naturally—without sudden braking, heavy noise, or discomfort—making it especially suitable for tiger reserves and hilly terrain where driver behaviour needs subtle correction rather than harsh enforcement.

Low Ecological Footprint, High Conservation Impact

Unlike large structural interventions, the red marking system is intentionally light on the environment. It:

• Does not disturb wildlife pathways or habitats

• Does not alter the road surface, drainage or soil profile

• Produces lower noise levels than traditional rumble strips

• Is fully reversible, allowing future upgrades without ecological disruption

To complement this, white shoulder edge lines have been painted strategically to prevent motorists from veering onto natural surfaces, protecting vegetation and ground fauna.

Wildlife Protection Through Science-Driven Engineering

The safety strategy goes far beyond speed calming. Along the 11.96 km stretch, NHAI has implemented a comprehensive wildlife movement system:

• 25 dedicated animal underpasses, located through habitat-movement mapping and corridor studies

• Underpasses aligned with natural slopes, drainage channels and forest trails, enabling seamless use by animals

• Continuous chain-link fencing on both sides to prevent direct entry of wildlife onto the carriageway and funnel animals toward safe crossing points

• Camera surveillance on minor bridges that act as additional wildlife corridors, enabling monitoring and research

• Solar-powered lighting on bridges and junctions, improving night visibility without contributing to light pollution

Although the 2.0 km section is flagged as a geometric danger zone, the fencing and underpass ecosystem ensures zero direct wildlife-road interaction, significantly reducing collision risks.

Setting a Benchmark for Environmentally Responsible Highways

This project demonstrates a progressive shift in India’s highway engineering philosophy—where safety, ecology, and mobility are co-priorities. The initiative achieves:

• Improved highway safety through proactive speed management

• Protection of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, and herbivores that frequent this landscape

• Conservation of fragile forest ecosystems through non-intrusive design

• Enhanced driver experience with smoother, more predictable travel conditions

At a time when India is constructing highways through mountains, forests, deserts, and coastal belts, such innovations set a new national benchmark. Here, the red road is not a warning of neglect, but a symbol of intentional, nature-aware design—where development respects the forest, and the forest coexists with progress.

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