NHAI introduces India’s first wildlife-safe road with table-top red marking on NH-45 through Madhya Pradesh forest corridor: All you need to know

Table-top red road markings on NH-45 cut through Madhya Pradesh’s forest corridor, marking India’s first wildlife-safe highway initiative by NHAI.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at balancing road development with conservation, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced innovative ‘table-top red road markings’ on a key stretch of National Highway 45 in Madhya Pradesh. The project, designed to improve wildlife safety, runs through one of the state’s most ecologically sensitive regions, passing the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.

The intervention is being seen as a potential model for wildlife-friendly infrastructure across India.

Sharing a video of the initiative on its social media handle X, the Madhya Pradesh government said protecting wildlife is a “sacred duty,” highlighting India’s first table-top red marking on NH-45 designed to slow vehicles and reduce animal-vehicle collisions inside the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.

Protecting our wildlife is not just a responsibility but a sacred duty that defines the #HeartofIndia.

To strengthen this wildlife-protection commitment, #MadhyaPradesh now has India’s first table top red marking on a national highway. As part of an 11.9 km highway expansion… pic.twitter.com/iT7CVGU2lB — Madhya Pradesh Tourism (@MPTourism) December 12, 2025

The red-marked stretch lies on the 11.96-km Hiran–Sindoor section of NH-45, connecting Bhopal and Jabalpur. Around 60 kilometres from Jabalpur, this highway cuts through dense forest zones where animals frequently cross the road.

The area is home to tigers, deer, jackals, sambar, and other wildlife, making vehicle-animal collisions a recurring concern despite existing safety measures.

Unlike conventional speed breakers, the newly introduced design features slightly raised, red-coloured chequered markings across the road surface. This creates a tabletop effect that naturally forces drivers to slow down without sudden braking.

The strong red colour was chosen deliberately, as it is more eye-catching than traditional white or yellow markings. Authorities say the visual contrast and uneven texture act as a warning signal, alerting motorists that they are entering a wildlife-heavy zone.

Almost the entire 12-km forest stretch has been covered with these red tabletop markings.

In addition to the red markings, NHAI has already constructed 25 wildlife underpasses along this highway to allow animals to move freely beneath the road with minimal disturbance. An eight-foot-high iron fence also runs along both sides, though officials admit that certain spots remained accident-prone, prompting the need for additional measures.

The project falls under NHAI’s Green Highways initiative, aligned with the 2015 Green Highways Policy of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

While nationwide data on animal-vehicle collisions remains limited, available figures highlight the urgency. In Punjab, direct animal collisions account for 53 per cent of fatalities linked to such accidents. In Madhya Pradesh, reports indicate 237 animal-vehicle collisions and 94 deaths over the past two years.

With the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve witnessing expanding tiger territories, the likelihood of animals approaching highways has increased.

“This work is currently underway and will be expanded further,” said NHAI official Amritlal Sahu. “We've typically seen white or yellow markings on the road, but for the first time, red markings have been used. This is to demarcate dangerous areas. The authority wants people to drive slowly at the designated areas where these markings have been put, as wild animals may cross the road.”

Highlighting the importance of existing infrastructure, Sahu added, “As many as 25 underpasses have been built on this road, allowing wild animals to cross from one side of the road to the other. However, red markings were necessary in this area. These red markings will force drivers to slow down, and not only will they be able to avoid crossing this winding road, but they will also be able to avoid danger. He himself will be safe, and wild animals will also be saved from accidents.”

Built at a cost of Rs 122 crore, the highway project is expected to be fully completed in 2025. According to the official project report, the upgraded road is also likely to boost tourism and local revenue, following the reclassification of nearby wildlife zones.

If the experiment proves successful, officials say similar eco-sensitive road designs could be introduced on other national highways passing through forest and wildlife corridors across India—marking a significant step towards safer roads for both humans and animals.