The Green National Highway Corridors Project will enable the up-gradation and maintenance of 783 km of highways in various geographies incorporating green technologies.
Use of resource-efficient, climate-resilient, green and safe technology.
The project aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the construction and maintenance of highways.
Currently, the National Highways in India carry 40 per cent of total traffic.
The project will also focus on climate resilience.
The project will improve the highway network’s efficiency by widening existing structures; improving junctions; constructing new pavements, drainage facilities and bypasses; and introducing other road safety features.
So, disaster risk assessment of about 5,000 km of the National Highway network will be undertaken under the project along with giving inputs to the ministry for implementing climate resilience features in project design and the implementation itself for future constructions.
Duration of loan
The loan is being financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the World Bank Group. It will have a maturity period of 14.5 years including 5 years grace period.
Background:
The Green National Highway Corridors project was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping in 2015 at New Delhi.
It was launched with an aim to promote greening of Highway corridors with increased participation of the local community, private sector, NGOs, farmers, and government institutions.
Objective: The scheme was launched with an aim to reduce the impact of air pollution and dust, to be accomplished by planting trees and shrubs along the National Highways. These plants would act as a natural sink for air pollutants and prevent soil erosion at the road embankment slopes.
Implications: The policy will have a balancing effect on highways development and environmental protection. The estimated employability of the policy is 5 lakh people of the rural areas.
Stakeholders: Contracts for the greening of highways are being given to NGOs, private companies, agencies, and governmental organisations. These stakeholders will also be responsible for the survival and health of trees.
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