PORUL is a research-driven design campaign that explores the relationship between cattle abandonment, road safety, rural livelihoods, and material innovation. The project began with a visible and immediate problem: cattle-induced road accidents. Cattle wandering on roads and highways can cause collisions, injuries, vehicle damage, and prolonged traffic congestion, affecting both road users and the animals themselves.

The population of stray cattle in the country is estimated at 53 lakhs. According to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, stray animals caused 1,604 road accidents in India, with the highest number reported in Gujarat (220), followed by Jharkhand (214) and Haryana (211).

Rather than treating cattle on roads as only a traffic problem, PORUL looks at why they are abandoned.
Economic pressures, rising fodder and healthcare costs, and lack of shelter can reduce their perceived value.
Male cattle may be abandoned young, while females may be abandoned when milk production declines.
As their economic value falls, abandonment increases—and the road becomes where its consequences are seen.