India's Longest 8 Lane Wildlife Tunnel Beneath Rajasthan Tiger Reserve to Open in August

India's longest eight lane wildlife tunnel , built beneath the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve on the Delhi Mumbai Expressway , is expected to open to all categories of vehicles in August after final safety validation, marking a significant milestone in balancing high speed infrastructure with wildlife conservation.

The 4.9 kilometre twin tube tunnel, located on the Delhi Vadodara section of the expressway in Kota district, is currently open only for trial runs involving cars and emergency vehicles. Heavy vehicles will be allowed after authorities complete testing of fire safety systems, emergency response mechanisms and mobile network connectivity inside the tunnel.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Project Director Sandeep Agrawal said the tunnel has not yet been officially opened for all vehicle categories and that remaining works are progressing alongside safety trials. He said the opening is expected in August following directions from the Union Ministry.

Constructed entirely beneath the tiger reserve, the tunnel enables uninterrupted wildlife movement above ground while preserving the forest ecosystem. The twin tubes carry four traffic lanes each, making it India's first eight lane highway tunnel beneath a wildlife sanctuary. Built over more than four years using specialised engineering techniques, the project overcame complex geological and environmental challenges while maintaining designated wildlife corridors for tigers and other animals.

The tunnel also represents the final critical link in the Delhi Mumbai Expressway, a 1,386 kilometre greenfield corridor connecting the national capital with the financial capital. Once fully operational, it will eliminate nearly 25 kilometres of winding road through the reserve, reduce travel time between Delhi and Vadodara from about 20 to 22 hours to around 10 to 12 hours, and support faster freight movement and interstate connectivity across Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.