Amreli (Gujarat)- India has completed its first dedicated railway underpass for the safe movement of Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s Amreli district, marking a significant step towards reducing wildlife-train collisions in the Gir landscape.
The underpass has been constructed on the Dhasa-Rajula and Rajula-Pipavav railway sections under a joint initiative of the Gujarat Forest Department and the Bhavnagar Division of Western Railway.
The project addresses a long-standing challenge in the Gir ecosystem, where lions and other wild animals frequently cross railway tracks while moving between forest areas, often resulting in fatal accidents and disruptions to train services.
The Rs 9.42-crore project involves the construction of five wildlife underpasses. One has now been completed, while work on the remaining four is underway.
Bhavnagar Divisional Railway Manager Dinesh Verma said the initiative has been designed to improve the safety of both wildlife and railway operations.
“If the lion underpass concept in Amreli proves successful and accidents involving wild animals are reduced, the initiative will be implemented on other railway routes passing through wildlife-rich areas,” Verma said.
He added that the project aims to ensure the safe passage of lions and other wildlife while enabling smoother train operations and moving towards the goal of zero wildlife-related accidents.
The Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding forests are the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. A busy Western Railway route passes through parts of this landscape, where lions regularly move across forest patches in search of territory, prey and water, bringing them into contact with railway tracks.
Residents of the region have welcomed the initiative, calling it an important measure for protecting Gujarat’s iconic lion population.
Mahendra Khuman, a farmer from Amreli, said the district has a significant population of Asiatic lions, making conservation efforts like these essential.
“If we look at this corridor, it is the first such corridor in the world. It has been built in the Bherai area of Amreli district along the Pipavav Port railway track, and the work has been completed. Five more such bridges are also being constructed for the protection of lions,” Khuman said.
Railway officials said the project reflects close coordination between the Railways, the Forest Department and the local administration to strengthen wildlife conservation while ensuring safe and efficient rail operations.
If the underpasses successfully reduce wildlife-train collisions, similar infrastructure could be introduced on other railway routes passing through ecologically sensitive regions across the country.
With inputs from IANS