Rajkot: In a major boost to wildlife conservation efforts, the Bhavnagar division of Western Railway has completed India’s first dedicated railway underpass designed specifically for the safe movement of Asiatic lions and other wildlife in the Gir area.The pioneering initiative has been developed in and around Gir, the world’s only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. The project aims to reduce wildlife casualties on railway tracks by providing a safe passage for animals crossing rail corridors that intersect lion habitats.The Railway administration, in collaboration with the Gujarat govt and the forest department, identified five vulnerable locations along the Dhasa–Rajula and Rajula–Pipavav railway sections for the construction of special wildlife underpasses. The project, estimated to cost Rs 9.42 crore, seeks to achieve the long-term goal of “zero accidents” involving wildlife and trains.Railway officials said two underpass structures on the Dhasa–Rajula section have been completed, while work at the remaining three sites is progressing rapidly and is expected to be finished on schedule.Divisional railway manager Dinesh Verma said the Bhavnagar division accords equal importance to environmental conservation and railway safety. He described the initiative as a pioneering model for Indian Railways and said the coordinated efforts of the Railways, forest department and local authorities would make it a landmark project in wildlife conservation.The need for dedicated wildlife crossings has become increasingly urgent with the rise in freight train movement linking Pipavav Port through areas that form part of the lion corridor. Conservationists have long raised concerns over the threat posed to lions, particularly during night-time crossings of railway tracks, where fatal accidents involving both freight and passenger trains have been reported in the past.A significant number of lions now inhabit unprotected revenue areas outside the Gir Protected Area, increasing their vulnerability to railway-related accidents.To mitigate risks, the Railways have issued strict operational guidelines to loco pilots, directing them to maintain vigilance in lion habitats, adhere to speed restrictions and halt trains whenever lions are spotted on tracks.According to railway officials, these measures have already produced encouraging results. Alert loco pilots helped avert accidents involving 129 lions during 2025-26, while 11 lions were safely protected after being sighted on railway tracks during the first two months of the current financial year.Officials believe the combination of dedicated wildlife underpasses and enhanced operational safeguards will significantly strengthen efforts to protect the iconic Asiatic lion population while ensuring safer railway operations through the region.
