Led by the Prime Minister, the Green India Mission aims to transform National Highways into environmentally sustainable Green Highways. As part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations, NHAI organized this event to plant over 275,000 saplings in a single day across more than 300 designated locations, including NHAI-owned land, toll plazas, and Amrit Sarovar. The plantation drive received enthusiastic participation from public officials, civil society, NGOs, and students, promoting the importance of environmental sustainability.
In his statement, Gadkari emphasized that this endeavour is in alignment with the Green India Mission (GIM), spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji. The primary objective of this mission is to transform our National Highways into environmentally sustainable Green Highways. He expressed an unwavering commitment to this cause and highlighted the diligent efforts being made to compensate for every tree that has fallen during road projects by planting twice the number of trees. Furthermore, he highlighted the successful relocation of fully grown and large trees as a noteworthy achievement.
Gadkari stressed that this initiative serves as a concrete response to the challenges posed by climate change. By simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and promoting the development of eco-friendly infrastructure, it aims to address these challenges effectively. He emphasized that plantation and transplantation of trees have become integral aspects of National Highway development. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of geotagging trees to enable monitoring of their progress and growth.
Furthermore, Gadkari encouraged individuals to actively participate in the program, emphasizing the need to create a sustainable and enduring impact through the plantation drive. In addition to the above-mentioned participants, Gen. (Retd) Dr V.K. Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation, and Santosh Kumar Yadav, Chairman of NHAI, also engaged in the plantation of saplings near the Dasna Interchange of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Ghaziabad.
The plantation action plan holds significant importance within the highway development program. It involves the planting of local indigenous shrubs and trees on surplus land along the roadside avenue and median land or right-of-way (ROW). As part of the Annual Plantation Action Plan, NHAI has adhered to the Green Highway policy-2015, promulgated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). From 2016-17 to 2022-23, a commendable total of 3.46 crore saplings have been planted. For the current year, a projected count of over 56 lakh saplings is planned for plantation, with the process having already commenced during the monsoon season.
NHAI's initiatives in plantation and related activities are aligned with the vision of the Prime Minister, focusing on Mission Life, Lifestyle For Environment. This vision emphasizes the importance of individual human behavior in driving global climate action. NHAI aims to contribute to the establishment of a self-sustaining ecosystem that promotes environmentally friendly practices.
