In Madhya Pradesh, a highway is learning to coexist with its wild neighbors, particularly tigers, through innovative mitigation strategies. National Highway 45 (NH-45), specifically the 11.96-kilometer Hiran-Sindoor section connecting Bhopal and Jabalpur, is now home to India's first "wildlife-safe" road corridor. This initiative by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) aims to reduce animal-vehicle collisions in a region that serves as a crucial corridor between the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
The primary feature of this project is the introduction of "table-top" red markings on the road. These aren't conventional speed bumps but raised, chequered red patterns across the tarmac designed to create a tactile and visual warning for drivers entering a sensitive wildlife zone. The red color is highly visible against the asphalt and green backdrop, prompting drivers to slow down gradually without abrupt braking. The goal is to make motorists more alert to the possibility of animal crossings, treating them as a common occurrence rather than an exception.
Beyond the surface-level changes, the project incorporates a larger ecological infrastructure package. NHAI has constructed 25 wildlife underpasses along this corridor to provide safer routes for animals to move between forest patches, maintaining habitat connectivity. To guide animals toward these underpasses and prevent them from crossing the road, an eight-foot-high iron fence has been installed along the highway.
This stretch of NH-45 is a known hotspot for animal-vehicle collisions. In Madhya Pradesh, nearly 237 such collisions have resulted in 94 wildlife deaths over the past two years. The expansion of the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve has increased the likelihood of tigers and other animals approaching the highway, making this section a high-risk area.
The implementation of these measures reflects a shift in India's approach to infrastructure development, prioritizing both connectivity and conservation. Earlier in December 2024, a sub-adult tiger was killed by a vehicle on the Bhopal–Jabalpur four-lane road, near Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary. In May 2025, a tiger cub was killed after being hit by an unidentified vehicle on the highway near Budhni. These incidents highlight the growing human–wildlife conflict in the area.
Similar initiatives have been undertaken elsewhere in India. For example, a four-lane wildlife corridor is being developed to connect Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh, and Panna tiger reserves. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway features five wildlife overpasses and India's longest wildlife underpass to ensure safe passage for animals. These structures are designed to blend with the natural surroundings, encouraging animals to use them.
The success of the NH-45 project will be closely monitored, with plans to replicate the "red corridor" approach on other national highways running through wildlife zones if it proves effective in reducing roadkill numbers. The project, costing ₹122 crore, represents a significant investment in integrating road design, animal movement planning, and traffic calming. It marks a move towards acknowledging animal movement as a key factor in road design, rather than treating it as "collateral damage".
