India's First 8-Lane Tunnel Under A Tiger Reserve To Open Soon: All You Need To Know

India is set to open a landmark infrastructure project on June 20 - the country’s first 8-lane tunnel built beneath a tiger reserve. Located on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway’s Delhi-Vadodara section, the tunnel passes under the ecologically sensitive Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan (near Kota). (Image: X/@Indian Infra Report)

Part of one of India’s most ambitious highway corridors, the 4.9-km tunnel has been designed to ensure high-speed, signal-free travel while also allowing uninterrupted wildlife movement above ground. Once operational, it is expected to significantly improve connectivity across multiple states while setting a new benchmark for eco-sensitive highway engineering. Here’s what travellers should know. (Image: X/@Indian Infra Report)

This is the first time in India that an 8-lane highway tunnel has been constructed underneath a protected tiger habitat. It allows high-speed traffic to pass below without disturbing wildlife movement on the surface. (Image: X/@India & The World)

Once operational, the tunnel is expected to significantly reduce travel time on this stretch while improving road safety by avoiding forest-level crossings and accident-prone zones. (Image: X/@India & The World)

The project uses engineering techniques aimed at minimising environmental impact, ensuring that forest cover and animal pathways above remain largely undisturbed. (Image: Instagram/@fgnmanoj)

The tunnel is scheduled to open to the public on June 20. Once operational, it will become a key segment for long-distance travellers using the Western India highway network. (X/@NHAI_Official)