India launched its first wildlife-safe highway on National Highway-45 (Bhopal–Jabalpur stretch) in Madhya Pradesh in December 2025, marking a major step toward eco-sensitive infrastructure development. The highway passes through the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve and near the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, making wildlife protection a critical concern. A 2 km ghat section of the 11.9 km stretch has been specially redesigned to reduce animal–vehicle collisions.
Key safety features include 5 mm thick thermoplastic red road markings that visually and physically slow vehicles, 25 animal underpasses supported by fencing to guide wildlife toward safe crossings, and speed detection and monitoring systems to enforce limits. The project balances road expansion with conservation needs through an eco-friendly design.
The initiative gained urgency after recent wildlife fatalities on highways, including a cheetah cub death near Kuno National Park. By adopting global best practices, this project sets a first-of-its-kind model in India for highways passing through forest corridors.
Overall, the NH-45 wildlife-safe highway demonstrates how infrastructure growth and biodiversity conservation can coexist, offering a scalable model for future projects across India.
