National Green Highway Mission by NHAI for a Sustainable Environment on Highways

The growth of an economy is acknowledged by the highways in India, only 2% of Indian road network comes under National Highway but it carries 40% of the automobile traffics. It signifies the importance of National Highways in the Indian economy. But the growth of highways has some inevitable consequences like environmental degradation in the form of deforestation. The situation gradually becomes critical as the traffic is contributing in releasing greenhouse gases. This leads to global warming and loss of biodiversity.

With an aim to reduce the adverse effect of deforestation on the environment, National Highways Authority of India has taken some initiatives like "Adopt A Green Highway" programme. The National Green Highways Mission (NGHM) is established by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) under National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) with a vision to develop green corridors along national highways for the sustainable environment and inclusive growth. National Highways Authority of India has introduced a policy to maintain an environmental balance. The new policy explains that NHAI spends 1% of the project’s total cost for planting of trees along the national highways.

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Roads & Highways says that road implementation agencies are directly responsible to develop green corridors along all the national highways. Adding to his speech, he says that the satellites will monitor the whole project. Satellites Gagan and Bhuvan keep track on each tree. And also the Authority announces that on World Environment Day, the best three performers of the year will be rewarded.

Recently National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) have signed a formal Memorandum of Agreement to develop green corridor covering 16.55 km of NH 56 and NH 29 along Varanasi bypass. For plantation and maintenance work, AAI has agreed to provide their CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds of Rs 5 crore for five years.

National Green Highways Mission (NGHM) under NHAI has already collaborated with Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC) for plantations work on NH 7 in Nagpur region (Borkhedi – Wadner, & Khatara – Kelapur) covering 87 km Stretch.

To engage the governmental organisation with corporate and public sector units, it is initiated by the NHAI. For keeping the ecological asset safe, NHAI hopes that this collaboration of NHAI and AAI will encourage public-private partnership and PSUs (Public Sector Undertaking) can also donate their CSR funds for developing green corridor.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India has announced Green Highways Policy to develop green corridors along National Highways for the sustainable environment and inclusive growth. It comprises of Plantations, Transplantations, Beautification and Maintenance of the plantation. Roadside plantations have immense potential to enhance the green cover of the nation and generate employment opportunities for the rural community.

Green Highways Division under National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been assigned with the task of planning, implementation and monitoring roadside plantations along one lakh km network of National Highways. It generates one lakh direct employment opportunity in plantations sector in next ten years.

• Referral links:

1. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/nhai-joins-hands-with-aai-for-green-corridor-in-varanasi-118032801077_1.html

2. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/govt-unveils-policy-to-create-green-corridors-along-national-highways/article7703187.ece

#DevelopmentofRoadWaysinIndia #GreenHighwayPolicy

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