PM Modi Reviews Saharanpur Wildlife Corridor Ahead Of Delhi–Dehradun Route Launch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inspected an elevated wildlife corridor on the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The visit, which took place around 11:15 AM, came just ahead of the formal inauguration of the ambitious expressway project later in the day in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

The 213-kilometre-long, six-lane access-controlled expressway, developed at a cost of over ₹12,000 crore by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), is designed to significantly improve connectivity between the national capital and the Uttarakhand capital. Once operational, it is expected to reduce travel time from the current over six hours to approximately 2.5 hours, while maintaining a speed limit of 100 kmph.

A standout feature of the project is its emphasis on ecological conservation. It includes a 12-kilometre-long elevated wildlife corridor—one of the longest in Asia—along with multiple underpasses, two 200-metre elephant underpasses, animal passes, and a 370-metre tunnel near the Daat Kali temple. These structures aim to minimise human-animal conflict and preserve ecological connectivity in the sensitive Shivalik forest region and areas adjacent to Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Recent studies using camera traps have already recorded 18 wildlife species, including elephants, utilising the passages.

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The corridor passes through eco-sensitive zones spanning Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, making the integration of wildlife-friendly infrastructure a key engineering priority. Officials highlighted that the elevated stretch, with adequate vertical clearance, allows large mammals and other animals to move freely beneath the highway without obstruction.

Following the inspection in Saharanpur, where he also held a roadshow and received a warm welcome, Prime Minister Modi proceeded to Dehradun. There, he is scheduled to inaugurate the full Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor at a public event and address the gathering. He is also expected to offer prayers at the Jai Maa Daat Kali Temple.

This project represents a notable example of balancing large-scale infrastructure development with environmental safeguards. By incorporating extensive wildlife mitigation measures, the Delhi-Dehradun corridor is being positioned as a model for future highway projects in ecologically sensitive areas across the country.

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