A busy national highway running through central India has become an unlikely example of how infrastructure and wildlife conservation can coexist. Inside the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, a redesigned stretch of the Bhopal–Jabalpur National Highway is reducing animal deaths and helping wildlife move safely across a landscape long divided by traffic.

For years, the highway posed a serious threat to animals inhabiting the tiger reserve, which is home to a wide range of species including big cats, herbivores, and smaller mammals. The road cuts directly through forested habitat, forcing animals to cross in search of food, water, and mates. Frequent vehicle movement, especially at night, led to repeated wildlife fatalities, disrupting natural movement patterns and placing pressure on already vulnerable populations.

In response to these risks, the National Highways Authority of India introduced a wildlife-sensitive redesign along a two-kilometre stretch considered a major crossing zone. Instead of relying solely on conventional speed breakers or warning signs, engineers adopted a combination of visual, tactile, and structural interventions aimed at slowing vehicles while maintaining smooth traffic flow.

The redesigned road surface features red and black thermoplastic markings that are slightly raised above the asphalt. These markings create vibrations when vehicles pass over them, alerting drivers to reduce speed without causing sudden jolts. The contrasting colours also increase visibility, particularly at night and during low-light conditions, making drivers more aware that they are entering a sensitive wildlife zone.

This approach has proven more effective than traditional measures, which often fail when drivers become accustomed to static signage. By engaging both sight and touch, the road itself communicates caution, encouraging safer driving behaviour in a section where animals frequently cross.

In addition to surface redesign, the highway now includes 25 dedicated underpasses built beneath the road. These structures are positioned along known wildlife corridors, identified through field observations and ecological assessments. The underpasses allow animals to cross the highway without stepping onto the road, reducing the risk of collisions while preserving natural movement routes within the reserve.

To ensure animals use these safe passages, iron fencing has been installed on both sides of the highway. The fencing acts as a guide, preventing animals from attempting random crossings and directing them toward the underpasses instead. Together, the fencing and underpasses form a continuous system designed to integrate wildlife movement into the road network rather than obstruct it.

Initial observations suggest the measures are working. Wildlife has been recorded using the underpasses regularly, including species that are typically cautious around human-made structures. From smaller herbivores to large predators, animals appear to be adapting quickly, continuing their daily movements without significant disturbance.

Conservation experts view the project as an important example of wildlife-sensitive infrastructure in India. Rather than treating conservation as an obstacle to development, the design recognizes that roads passing through natural landscapes must account for the ecological systems they intersect. The project demonstrates that relatively small design changes can deliver meaningful benefits when informed by scientific understanding of animal behaviour.

The success of the redesign also highlights the importance of collaboration between transport authorities and environmental specialists. By identifying critical crossing zones and incorporating ecological data into engineering decisions, infrastructure projects can significantly reduce wildlife mortality without major delays or costs.

As vehicle numbers continue to rise across India, conflicts between roads and wildlife are expected to increase. The experience in the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve offers a practical model that could be replicated in other forested regions where highways intersect animal habitats.

The red-and-black highway through the reserve now stands as a visible reminder that roads do not have to be barriers. When designed with care and foresight, they can become shared spaces where human mobility and wildlife survival move forward together.