Delhi-Dehradun Expressway corridor set to reduce human-wildlife conflicts

The newly constructed Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, featuring Asia’s longest elevated wildlife corridor through Rajaji National Park, is expected to bring significant benefits to Himachal Pradesh, especially its Sirmaur district. This 12-kilometre wildlife corridor not only preserves migratory routes but also addresses human-wildlife conflicts, a serious issue in Himachal over the past two years.

Elephants from Rajaji National Park have increasingly ventured into populated areas of Sirmaur, like Paonta Sahib and Nahan, due to disruptions in their migration paths caused by construction in Uttarakhand. This has led to damaged farmlands and, tragically, two human fatalities. The wildlife corridor’s design includes multiple underpasses and tunnels, such as the 340-metre Daat Kali tunnel, providing safe passage for animals within the national park and redirecting them to traditional routes. This could significantly reduce elephant migrations into Himachal’s populated areas, easing the risk to local residents and their livelihoods.

This project also promises improved connectivity. Upon completion, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will shorten travel time between Delhi and Dehradun to approximately 2.5 hours. For Himachal, the expressway will bring Delhi within about 250 kilometres of Sirmaur, compared to the previous 290 kilometres.

Furthermore, the four-lane National Highway 07 from Chandigarh to Dehradun via Paonta Sahib, currently under construction, will reduce the distance between Paonta Sahib and Dehradun to around 40 kilometres. Once completed, this route will reduce travel time from Sirmaur to Delhi to about 3 hours, expected to boost tourism by making Sirmaur’s scenic and religious sites more accessible to Delhi-based travellers.

In addition to ecological and connectivity benefits, reduced elephant incursions could help stabilise agriculture in Himachal’s Sirmaur district. The Indian government has already allocated nearly Rs 90 lakh to combat human-elephant conflicts in the region under Project Elephant, which funds measures such as solar-powered fencing, ANIDER systems, and vehicle-mounted loudspeakers to deter wildlife from entering populated areas. Awareness initiatives are also underway to educate residents on safe coexistence with wildlife, with the new corridor expected to further minimise conflicts.

Overall, the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, with its innovative wildlife corridor, represents a balanced approach to development and conservation. By safeguarding wildlife paths and enhancing human safety, it serves as a model for eco-sensitive infrastructure that benefits both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.