Headline: NHAI Unveils New Guidelines to Protect Wildlife Along National Highways

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has released a new document, Wildlife Mitigation Measures & Structures, to strengthen wildlife protection during highway development.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari unveiled the guidelines at Chintan Shivir 2026 in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on October 5. The framework recommends wildlife-friendly infrastructure, including underpasses, overpasses, culverts and canopy crossings, along with fencing, warning signs and speed controls to reduce animal-vehicle collisions and habitat fragmentation.

The guidelines call for wildlife protection to be considered at every stage of highway projects, from planning to construction and implementation.

The Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor has already shown positive results, with camera traps recording 60 instances of elephants safely using animal underpasses. The corridor also features a major elevated wildlife passage designed to accommodate large mammals.

The ministry is collaborating with the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority to develop measures based on animal migration patterns. Gadkari also stressed eco-friendly construction and innovative materials to make India’s expanding highway network safer and greener.