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As 2025 came to a close, a new chapter was unfolding in Madhya Pradesh, India.
In December 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India unveiled new updates to a highway that cut through the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
The massive wildlife park is home to a wide variety of animals, including Bengal tigers, leopards, wolves, panthers, and the four-horned antelope.
And like many roadways that cut through natural wildlife corridors, vehicle collisions posed a growing threat to animals and drivers alike.
NHAI has taken the threat of wildlife collisions seriously, adding 25 wildlife underpasses to points along the 7.5-mile stretch of highway that have been identified as critical animal movement locations.
Research estimates that one wildlife crossing can prevent about 1,400 accidents over a 70-year lifespan.
“These underpasses are integrated with natural ground levels and drainage paths to encourage regular animal use,” the NHAI and MoRTH said in a joint press release.
“Continuous chain-link fencing … has been installed on both sides of the highway to prevent animals from entering the carriageway and to guide them toward underpasses.”
India has been building wildlife crossings at an increasing rate in recent years. On April 14, the NHAI opened the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, a six-lane highway underlined by a 6.8-mile corridor for animals.
Within a 40-day window, before construction was even completed, researchers recorded over 40,000 images of animals using the crossing. In addition to golden jackals, spotted deer, leopards, and peacocks, there were over 60 instances of elephants using the corridor.
But the NHAI hasn’t stopped there. In addition to giving animals alternate routes, the agency has employed an innovative technique to encourage drivers to slow down and keep an eye out for wildlife that may slip through the cracks.
And they did it with color psychology.
On a critical 1.2-mile stretch of highway through the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, the NHAI applied red, 5-millimeter-thick thermoplastic surface layers to the roads.
“The bright red colour immediately alerts drivers that they are entering a speed-restricted, wildlife-sensitive corridor,” the NHAI and MoRTH stated.
There’s a scientific reason why red is typically chosen for stoplights, brake lights, and emergency signage.
Red has the longest wavelength of visible light, which makes it highly visible in rainy or foggy weather. Studies show that the human brain processes the color red up to 10% faster than any other color.
In addition to the red color, the slightly raised surface layer also has a subtle, but recognizable, impact on drivers.
“The slightly raised surface generates mild tactile and audible feedback, naturally encouraging drivers to slow down, without causing discomfort or sudden braking,” the NHAI and MoRTH said in the press release.
Overall, India’s first “red road” is meant to reduce accidents, protect wildlife, and make travel safer for all.
“As India continues to build critical infrastructure through diverse landscapes, this project sets a benchmark for environmentally responsible, people-centric, and wildlife-sensitive highway development, where red roads signal not danger, but thoughtful design and green intent,” the agencies emphasized.
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Featured Image: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
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