India's first dedicated railway underpass for Asiatic lions has been completed in Amreli district, Gujarat, marking a landmark step in reducing wildlife-train collisions across the Gir landscape. The structure, built on the Dhasa-Rajula and Rajula-Pipavav railway sections, is part of a ₹9.42 crore joint initiative by the Gujarat Forest Department and the Bhavnagar Division of Western Railway.

What Has Been Built

The project envisages five wildlife underpasses in total, of which one has now been completed in the Bherai area of Amreli district along the Pipavav Port railway track. The remaining four structures are at various stages of construction. Railway officials described the initiative as a coordinated effort between the Railways, the Forest Department, and the local administration to improve conservation outcomes without compromising rail efficiency.

Why This Corridor Was Chosen

The Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding forests constitute the world's only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. A busy Western Railway line cuts through parts of this ecosystem, and lions along with other wildlife routinely cross the tracks while moving between forest patches in search of territory, prey, and water. These crossings have historically resulted in accidental deaths and train disruptions — a concern that local communities and conservationists have flagged for years.

What Railway Officials Said

Dinesh Verma, Divisional Railway Manager of the Bhavnagar Division, said the project was conceived to protect both wildlife and railway operations simultaneously. '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 objective is to achieve zero accidents involving wildlife while ensuring uninterrupted train movement.

Community Response

Local residents have welcomed the development. Mahendra Khuman, a farmer from Amreli, noted that Gujarat hosts a large population of Asiatic lions, particularly in Amreli district, making protective infrastructure essential. '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.

What Comes Next

If the completed underpass demonstrably reduces wildlife-train collisions, similar structures could be extended to other ecologically sensitive railway corridors across India. The remaining four underpasses under the current project are expected to be completed in phases. The initiative could set a replicable model for balancing infrastructure expansion with wildlife conservation in biodiversity-critical zones.