Gujarat Lions Roam Highways: Elevated Roads Planned

Gujarat is pioneering a new approach to infrastructure development, prioritizing wildlife conservation with its upcoming Gujarat Forest Policy. This policy aims to address the rising number of animal fatalities, particularly Asiatic lions, on the state's expanding rail and road networks. Key to this initiative are plans for elevated transportation corridors across Greater Gir and other wildlife sanctuaries.

The forest department is drafting policies that advocate for infrastructure designs allowing unimpeded animal movement, such as viaducts and underpasses. This strategy is informed by successful wildlife mitigation measures implemented around Assam's Kaziranga National Park. The proposed policy will cover eco-sensitive zones surrounding protected areas, not just their core limits.

Data indicates significant wildlife mortality, with five lion deaths from train hits and two from road accidents recorded in 2023-2024 alone. Over the past decade, approximately 20 lion deaths were linked to transport accidents. Similar issues affect other species, like blackbucks in Velavadar, with 15 deaths reported in a single year due to highway traffic.

To counter habitat fragmentation and direct mortality, the policy will recommend elevated alignments, underpasses, controlled access, and speed management for new linear infrastructure. Furthermore, it will emphasize the expansion of community and conservation reserves in lion-use areas outside protected forests to secure dispersal corridors.