National Green Highways Mission

The mission to make highways better began on 29th of September in the year of 2015 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MRTH). It has an extremely basic and compelling motivation. There are specifically four basic objectives that are advertised as the highlight, plantation, beautification, transplantation and maintenance that is to be carried alongside the highways.

Mission and Vision of NGHM

The formulation of the project had a basic vision of generating greenery alongside the highways throughout the nation and create employment for a large number of people. This vision is to be achieved through reasonable means and missions accordingly. One of the very first missions towards the cause was to take up the upcoming road projects in India so the project can be benefitted in the new locations as well. The second mission listed out the existing highways running throughout the country and carry out the green highway project in India. The term that is required just to establish the project is estimated to be 10 years, which would create a lot of employment over the time. The employment count has also been figured out to be around a lakh number of people. This mission definitely seems to be way out of sight, but the initial implementation of the project has proved that the mission by NGHM is a highly effective project in multiple ways. Needless to say, the overall atmosphere would change and the thruways would be much more beautiful than before.

Some of the Fundamental Objectives

·  The premier motive is to make the highways of the country better and greener and build an environment-friendly chain of highways.

·  The green highways would be beneficial in taking a step forward to the initiation of the green corridors and generate a lot of employment.

·  To set up this project on such a large scale that a self-sustainable clean environment would not be a long shot in the future.

·  Tackling the problems relating to global warming has been an international issue. This project is a pathway to make sure that global warming and other environmental issues are tackled in a large scale throughout the country.

· Providing shade on the national highways prevents air pollution and soil erosion and a lot many environmental issues. Greener highways also ensure the prevention of UV radiation in the atmosphere.

· Overall development of the country by balancing the economical aspect.  

The project is taking help of ranchers, NGOs, government and private bodies and even the local bodies to meet the end results of their mission. The roadside greenery in the highways can greatly benefit the overall greenery of the whole nation. According to a calculated estimation, there are about one lakh kilometers of highways running throughout the country and the project would not only work towards the greenery but also for the employment of the local workers. The maintenance and other work would provide employment for a period of 10 years.  

The launch of the Green highway project in the country has transformed the definition of development. Gone are the days when people gave two hoots about the environment. Ongoing climate change in the world has forced the Indian government to take radical steps to ensure sustainable infrastructure development. NGOs and various other organizations are roped into plant trees along the highway and ensure a pollution free environment. Whatmore, the green highway project India has stipulated different rules and regulations for the organizations responsible for maintaining the natural vegetation.

Globalization is responsible for the breakneck development of India, however, special focus is on creating roads as they help in transportation of goods from one place to another. The infrastructure has many advantages, but it also adversely impacts the environment. For instance, large numbers of trees are felled to make way and it results in the loss of the natural environment. In addition, the disappearance of forests leads to change in climatic activities.

NGHM is the primary authority that oversees the construction activities. It has issued orders to the residents located near the highways to plant different types of trees. They play an important role in providing shade to people and going a long way in maintaining the ecological balance. Indiscriminate development has caused more harm than good to the people. They are affected by diseases due to pollution caused by the vehicles. The presence of trees would help to increase the level of oxygen in the air and reduce the level of toxic substances.

Green highway mission focuses on inclusive growth and continuous innovation to make the project not only viable but beneficial for the environment. The government is offering tax breaks to the private companies so that they can carry out the construction activities in an easy and hassle free manner.

The authorities have also allowed the private parties to collect toll for a minimum of 20 years. It is quite a relief because financial incentives are available for the companies. Startups are being encouraged to implement new technologies in enhancing the green cover of the surroundings. They would develop operational models and involve the local communities in the decision-making process.

Research and training would be organized by the NGHM to build the capacity for accomplishing the task. Collaboration with an international and national organization is sought to ensure that development doesn’t alter the balance of the flora and fauna.

Green corridors have the potential to reduce the harmful effect of air pollution that has been generated by the vehicles on the road. Planting trees on the sides of the highway will not only increase the green area but will also clean the air. It is our duty to Support green corridor project and make India cleaner and a greener country. Play your part, contribute your effort and be a responsible citizen. 

The problem of Pollution is serious and it is the high time when we should take immediate action to curb the harmful effect of pollution and control the harm. The rise in temperature, changing the seasonal pattern and many diseases are the outcome of growing level of pollution. 

To counter the aggravating and the negative impact of the smoke and poisonous gas on the road in India, the NGHM has launched the green corridor project. The concept is based on developing green corridors by planting trees on highways. This will not only improve the aesthetic element of the road, but it will protect the environment as well. 

Roads have always been considered as one of the major contributors to the development of the area. The city well connected with the rest part of the country will attract merchants, tourists and other people to its premise. A road with strong safety features plays the essential role in the growth and development of business and commerce. Earlier the roads were for bullock carts but today we have vehicles. The huge trucks that can load tons of products can travel all across the country. This transportation is playing the crucial part in development and revenue earning of the country. But nothing comes free of cost, and the heavy load of trucks, bus, and other vehicles on the road are the major contributors to the air pollution. The emission of harmful gas from the automotive merges in the environment and it slowly become the part of the air that we inhale.  

The change in the quality of the air is harmful. It does not just increase the temperature, but the deteriorated quality of the air is responsible for lower rain, lower quality crops. It pollutes the air that can cause many respiratory diseases to the living being. Though automobile industry is coming forward with the options that can reduce the level of pollution, but the increasing number of the vehicles on the road has nullified all the efforts. It is the time when we should follow countermeasure to curb the negative effect of pollution. 

Many donor agencies, private enterprises have also come forward to support the mission and they are supporting the cause by donating and taking active participation. 

To bring the significant change and create awareness among the common people, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India has embarked upon Green Highway policy in 2015. Its objective is Plantations, Transplantations, Beautification and Maintenance of roads. The concept of green corridor India focuses on the sustainable environment and inclusive growth. To make this venture successful, the program has joined hands with communities, farmers, NGOs, the private sector, institutions, government agencies and the Forest Departments. 

The NGHM has proposed a plan to develop green corridors at developed and upcoming national highways. This will not only increase the percentage of green area in a country but will effectively work against the pollution as well.

The idea of balancing the pollution with the developing green corridors has the potential to bring significant changes in the environment. A project of  NGHM, the concept of the green corridor is to plant trees at the highway. It is one of the best methods to counter the pollution. It also compensates the damage that has been done already by deforestation in the name of development. It is the time when we should start taking small initiatives to bring change in the environment before it is too late.

Building roads is an important facet of national development because trade and commerce depend on the quick movement of goods and people. The highways can only be laid when the surrounding forests, trees and shrubs are cleared. Due to incessant cutting, lots of environmental concerns have arisen. Some of them are as follows:

An increase in pollution level:

Once the trees are removed in large quantities, they cause an increase in the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As a number of carbon increases in the atmosphere, it would block the heat escaping from the atmosphere and cause Global warming. Green corridor India plays an important role in eliminating the harmful impact of the deforestation and ensures that adequate supply of oxygen is restored to the environment.

Accidents:

One of the primary concerns of the NGHM is the frequent accidents that are caused due to the animals trying to cross the road. Forests are cleared, thereby posing problems for the wildlife. It is a horrendous situation however the government has laid clear rules and guidelines regarding the issue. NGOs are being encouraged to plant trees along the roads to provide sufficient supply of air to the people. Trees along the highways act as impediments and prevent the stray animals from passing from one point to another.

Road closures:

At frequent places, road closures are created to prevent the intrusion of the animals. It is bound to go a long way in saving precious lives. They also block the entry of the people trying to cross the highway. In order to deal with the situation, underpasses are created to ensure seamless flow of the people and transport.

Awareness regarding speed limit:

A new awareness has to be developed among the drivers about the speed limit while driving on the expressways. It is important to prevent accidents especially when somebody is trying to cross from one edge top another. Green corridor India project also takes into account the soil erosion that is caused due to the construction of the highways. Planting of trees can prevent the problem from occurring as the soil holds the ground even during floods.

Monitoring of the land drainage:

Land excavation is carried out across the length and breadth of the area where expressways are to be constructed. It can have a detrimental impact on the ground water table. Tracking the flow and predicting the outcome is the primary objective of the highway authorities.

Comprehensive assessment of the well, hand pumps and tube wells along the road side would go a long way in saving the environment and ensuring sustainable development for a very long time.

Infrastructure improvement is the key to success for any country including India. It helps to transfer the goods from one place to another. Upcoming road projects in India are playing an important role in delivering the goods to the people. Numerous highways are coming up across the states to facilitate communication in an impeccable manner. They are the jugular veins connecting north, south, east, west horizons of the country. The Indian government has implemented numerous measures to ensure that the construction of the highways doesn’t in any way disturb the ecological balance.

In order to make the environment green, NGHM has made it mandatory for the companies to plant trees. They are placed across the road to capture the imagination of the people. Organizations that are registered with authority panels are only certified to carry out the plantation task without any hassles.

Increased number of plants and trees ensure an adequate supply of fresh air to the people. They do not need to suffer from the fumes of automobiles. In addition, suitable research is also conducted to assess the impact of the water level due to the construction of the roads. It is vital to ensure proper supply of water to the adjoining areas while the roads are being constructed in huge numbers.

Green highway project India is known to be a torch bearer for the future infrastructure ventures launched into the country. It is a self-sustaining project that would go a long way in delivering sterling results to the economy. Green corridors that are developed in the vicinity imbibe aesthetic appeal to attract the attention of the people.

Rows of trees are crucial to provide shade to the users. They are powerful bulwarks against the heat and help people to prevent the onset of the sun stroke. Green highway authorities are planning to construct a mission and innovation unit to track the planting of the trees. Numerous international organizations would be involved to accomplish the task with maximum efficiency.

ITC LTD, Yes bank, and Tri are working together to beautify the expressways without any hassles. They are reputed companies with a huge brand value. By planting trees, it is possible to stop the soil erosion in the area and ensure that the floods do not occur frequently.

One of the most important aspects of the greenery is that it helps to block the harmful impact of the UV radiation and the wind flow. Plants also play an instrumental role in reducing the effects of the noise as well as air pollution.

The high bridge, long highways, all share a story of success and development, but the cost that we pay for such development is dangerous. It is never too late to compensate the damage that has been meted out in the name of the development and the Green highway project launched by the NGHM is one of the most results-oriented and wonderful initiatives taken by the authority and the growing presence of greenery at highways is a pleasant incentive for all those who are working in this direction.

As a result, the temperature of the earth is steadily increasing and causing lots of problems in the form of natural catastrophes like a flood. Realizing the problem, infrastructure companies are launching a Green highway project all over the country. It is a wonderful step to preserve the environment that is depleting at an alarming pace. In fact, there are various tips that help to accomplish the stated objectives.

Plantation of native tree and shrubs goes a long way in maintaining the Agri climatic zone. Exotic plants require high maintenance and deliver inferior productivity to the users. The government has created a list of shrubs that are to be mandatory planted near the highway. Site-specific trees ill last for a very long time.

Young trees can be manually planted according to the requirements and specifications of the project. It has a better survival rate when compared to the grown up shrubs. Suitable technology accompanied by state of the art equipment's will help to complete the job within the shortest possible time.

One of the most important aspects of going green is to undertake beautification and landscaping of the area located near the highway. Loss of greenery can adversely impact the environment, however restoration through the planting of trees and minimise the damages. People would have sufficient oxygen to breathe while enjoying the ride on vast expansive highways. Rows of greenery in the vicinity ensure that the development is not carried out at the expense of nature.

Strict monitoring of the plantation status is important to track the development of the greenery around the highway. Various steps are taken by the non-governmental with green to enhance the aesthetics of the surroundings. Some trees are quite beautiful to look at to create an instant impression on the people. The government carefully selects the species of the trees that have to be planted near the NGHM highways.

Landowners with holdings near the highways can be motivated to include numerous shrubs to enhance the amount of greenery. Additional funds for the task is provided by the suitable authorities so that people do not have to finance the venture from their own pockets.

Only agencies that are registered with green highway project India are allowed to undertake the plantation project. The companies are included in the panel only of they have sufficient experience and capability to accomplish the task.

As a boost to the startups, an experience is not required however, they should have the necessary technical infrastructure and human resources to indulge in the large-scale planting of the trees. Availing the latest resources, they are able to meet the rigid standards without any hassles.

Preference to community-based organisations, empowers the local citizens to conduct the plantation activities at a brisk pace. Increased number of trees would enhance the amount of fresh air and reduce harmful gasses in the atmosphere.

Monetary contribution from the Corporations play an important role in funding of the green projects along the highway. The milestones are clearly defined and tracked to ensure that the money is properly utilized.

NGHM has taken the right step for the future of the country. A delicate balance should be maintained while constructing roads and the surrounding forests. With climate change, earthquakes and floods becoming a daily occurrence, the Green highway project is just the medicine, the doctor ordered. If we would not take sound measures now, then soon we will be on the verge of devastation that would be hard to avoid. Take care of the environment before it is too late!!

 The ministry of Transport in India has decided to create green corridors all along the national highways being constructed across the length and breadth of the country. Policy of plantation and Transplantations is to be followed to ensure that delicate balance between the environment and development is restored. Deforestation is occurring at a breakneck speed in order to develop the country, therefore the new rules and regulations have come as fresh whiffs of air not only for the environmentalists but also the general population. The Green highway project is started with the aim of planting more than 10 crore trees along the highways and expressways. Different states are being targeted under the new initiative from the government. Trees are essential for the government because they help to maintain the oxygen level of the environment and control pollution.

 Companies willing to join the project should be in the empanelment committee. In order to accomplish the task, registration is essential. Therefore, it is vital to send the same in the form of a proposal to the NGHM headquarters. Agencies that can apply for the same include Plantation companies, cooperatives and NGOs. It is vital to undertake the registration process however the application needs to be submitted in a prescribed format.

Companies can check the status on the website and if pending documents have to be submitted, it should be done at the earliest to become the part of the green highway project India.More than 96,000Km of national highways is constructed across the states. It carries in excess of v65% freight, therefore in order to maintain the lifeline of the economy, tress have to be planted in the vicinity. It helps to ensure that environmental balance and also keeps the natural catastrophes away from the people.

NGHM is working on the project to restrict the carbon emission by as much as 35%. It is one of the most important objectives to keep the surroundings pollution free. Incessant development with disregard to environment has caused more harm than good to humanity. Unique green corridors would be developed with an aesthetic appeal.

Due to the planting of trees, soil erosion can be prevented to a great extent. It will not affect the health of the people. Vacant land near the highway is also to be used for plantation. The organizations empanelled with the committee are responsible to increase the number of trees. Plants play a very important role in saving people from the harmful impacts of dust and pollution.

One of the most important benefits of the plantation is that it provides shade to people during the scorching summer season. In the latest land acquisition policy, plenty of stress is now placed on the environmental aspect of the project.

The project of Green Corridors, supported by the NGHM is designed with the mission to control the damage done by the pollution produced by the vehicles on highways. The growing load of traffic on a road has brought us to the verge it has become essential to take necessary measures to counter the damaging effect of pollution with restorative measures. The joint effort of government and the private sector can make it more feasible to attain clean and pollution free environment and for that planting trees is the best possible option that we have in our hand.

Green corridor, India projects not just about plantation of trees along the national highways but it’s an idea to enhance environmental sustainability of highways operations by promoting the climate change mitigation (GHG emissions) during construction and maintenance of road traffics and highways. it laid stress on perfect engineering and research model right from the designing phase to the usage of material, reduction in wastages, recycling and reuse concepts.

According to a government study (2010), the transport sector in India emits 142.04 million tons of Carbon dioxide (CO2) and 73.1% of CO2 is from the road transport alone. Realizing this factor and the harmful impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on health, climate and the environment, the Ministry of Road transport and Highways (MoRTH) came up with the concept of the green corridor India.

The National Green Highways Mission or NGHM launched on 1 July, 2016 by honorable Union road transport and highways minister Shri. Nitin Gadkari with a mission to provide a green canopy along 100,000 Km of highways and to provide jobs to approx. 1 million youth of the country. Investment worth of Rs 5000 crore has been estimated by the government which constitutes 1% of the road construction cost of Rs 5 trillion till 2019 on the mission.

The task of strategic planning, executing, and monitoring roadside plantations along national highways have been entrusted to NGHM under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).To make up for the tree losses, while road construction, this mission with the help of effective participation of local communities, private organizations and institutions, NGO’s and government agencies, farmers and Forest Department aims to develop eco-friendly national highways.

The running project is expected to sequester approximately 12 lakh metric ton carbons annually to reduce the pollution level and generate employment for the local and young population of the country which could be a real game-changer for the rural and the agricultural economy and in future the mission plans to link the project with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme. The minister also launched mobile application, Kisan Harit Rajmarg Yojana, and ‘Adopt a Green Highway’ Program, which engages public sector units, corporates, government sector organizations under CSR for promoting and developing green corridors along NHs.

Under the project, it has been decided to set up Centre for Innovations in Green Pathways to promote research and innovations in the field of economy with the cooperation of various research institutions and international organizations like The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), World Bank, and Yes bank.

A green highway is a new concept of building roadway which integrates the transportation functionality and ecological sustainability, basically, green highway is additionally beneficial in environmental problems growing in the urban area's pollution and public health. This is an upcoming road projects in India, which is specially designed and constructed with eco-friendly constraints; generally, it promotes more plantations of trees in India and road filling with recycled materials.

Green Highway Projects

The main aim of the green highway project is helping the environment, help local communities, and generate employment for planting trees along all the highways in the country and for the beautification of the roadways.

India over Green Highway Projects

The government of India launched its green highway project  plantation, transplantation, beautification, and maintenance policy in September 2015 and the main target was to plant trees along highways approximately covering 6000 kms of roadway, the vision behind the policy of government was to make India pollution free and also help in curtailing the number of road accidents in India and is to provide dignified employment to local communities in India the project was vision according to reducing the impact of air pollution and dust, providing shade on glaring hot roads during summer, reducing the impact of noise pollution and soil erosion, preventing the glare from the headlights of incoming vehicles and promoting the use of stuffs like car pulling and public transport. This initiative is properly taken for fulfilling sustainable development projects in India commitment for the voluntary carbon emission reduction of up to 35% by 2030-CoP 21 Summit.

Government of India Over Green Highway Policy

The humble roads and transport minister of India Mr. Nitin Gadkari put the initiative integrated with other schemes like MNREGA and commented that the government can even give advances to farmers and contractors for purchasing trucks and tractors, Planting trees in any specific area will be based on the soil suitability there, apart from that success and climate stories. Konkan situated in Maharashtra is the very popular for Alphoso, because we can execute their itself. In Chhattisgarh, we can have tamarind. 

Somewhere in between the road lengths, we can have flowers like roses, said, mr. Nitin Gadkari and Planting fruit-bearing trees specific to the region can aid revenue generation. Besides, waste products or biomass from trees along the road can be used to make fertilizers accepts from the sale would e partitioned equally among the local Panchayat body and contractor. Under the plan, the service or NHAI will name an approved office for Empanelment of estate offices, which will then be permitted to offer for the undertakings. Activities are relied upon to be granted on a turnkey premise, contingent upon the quantum of the ranch for the particular site. The estate office will have no privilege to the land and can't attempt whatever other movements on such land.

NGHM, has taken the responsibility to develop Green Corridors on highway. The purpose of the Green corridor, India is to reduce the level of pollution and counter the effect of carbon emission caused by the vehicles running 24-hours on the highways.  Don’t let the increasing amount of pollutants spoil the environment. Plant trees on both sides and let greenery and help in building a sustainable environment. 

How does a National Highway become the treasure for the country? When the highways are green to look at there are chances that the country be projected as the well planned country and thus get more attention from the outsiders to invest in it. You could get more funds from the countries that are likely to fund on the interesting projects that are happening in the developing countries like India. Also the Green Highway would ignite the hearts of the drivers those who are driving for a very long distance with the heavy loads on their vehicles. This would reduce the number of accidents. Even the tourists would feel happy about the nation when they have to travel for a very long distance on the highways that are pollution free. Thus the respect for the country would be increased in the tourists. The citizens of the country would also feel proud to have such Green Highway that would increase the fame and name of the country. But, for this to happen there is an extensive exercise that should be made by every citizen.

The youth would also get benefitted because of the several jobs that are created as part of the projects that are likely to build the Green Corridors across all the states and cities of the state. When the government is ready to invest funds in building the infrastructure of the country to grow and for the individuals to get lot many opportunities then why not everyone of us pay attention to these projects. There are many industries that would get benefitted when the highways are maintained well. Several industries are based on the transportation that happens to these highways. Hence is the mission to be strengthened across the nation.

When we say green it is not just about plantation, it does include the concept of reducing the pollution by adopting the methods and solutions that help enhance climate change mitigation. CHG emissions should be more targeted if one has to bring in the sustainable environment all around the country. All the construction and maintenance activities should be adapted with scientific approaches that are likely to reduce the emissions. The technology has changed, but how the technology can be leveraged to attain sustainable environment is to be exercised and should be implemented by the engineers, right from the design phase. Of course, the procurement of the material used for construction should be selected with utmost care so that none of the materials would create roadblocks for these missions .

The Green Pathways  are the need of the time. The way traffic is growing on the highway it has become a prime concern for highways project authorities to maintain a sustainable environment. The green highway mission, target to plant trees that would help in reducing the pollution caused by the automobiles.  The growing level of carbon dioxide in the environment need to be checked before it becomes hazardous for the environment. 

A highway project mission started on 29th of September in the year 2015 by the ministry of road transport and highways (MRTH) has a very simple and effective agenda. It had 4 common goals, namely, Beautification, Plantation, Maintenance and Transplantation alongside the country by the MRTH, government of India. It is a policy that is being established to enhance the economic stability and environmental balance. They are taking help of NGOs, farmers, private and government bodies and other local bodies to achieve this in a sustainable mode. The road side plantations along the roadway can have a great effect on an overall of the whole country. With a chain of highways that runs through around one lakh kilometres in the country can also bring about a growth in employment rate. The NGHM also aims to create opportunities for people by plantation along the right of way, which would last for the next 10 years.

Vision and Mission of NGHM

The vision of NGHM is to generate maximum greenery along the highways of the country and generate a lot of employment opportunities in a sustainable manner. Keeping this as their primary objective, the missions are set accordingly as well. One of the initial missions was to take up the green corridor’s development across all the new pathways of the country. This would ease out the task to make the existing ones in the same manner which is their second mission. Since the existing chain of pathways needs more planning for the desired execution. As these corridors in India need a reasonable amount of time to be self-sustaining, this mission has set for 10 years to make it happen. While the 10 years is a long time the next mission is to generate maximum employment for the people in the green corridor project for all the national highways of the country. The employment count has set to a humongous number of 1 lakh people. This is a tough mission set by NGHM but it can accumulate this amount of employment opportunities by engaging the work division in all sectors, broadly classified under skilled and unskilled jobs. Lastly, their final mission is to keep up the maintenance and research of the effect of green corridors on the environment. By this, this can be broadened to green pathways, railways and waterways as well.

Basic Objectives of NGHM

· The first and the foremost reason is to increase the appeal of the roads throughout the country by making it greener and natural. 

· To formulate different ways to initiate a systematic framework for this purpose, India project that would be beneficial in the long run and generate employment.

 · The green highways needs to be self-sustained. 

· Build green corridors throughout the country for having a much efficient ecosystem which can be beneficial in having a better environment, tackle the effects of the increasing global warming and other environmental issues. 

It is a time when we should take the responsibility of our action. Don’t let the unplanned development spoil the balance of the environment. Evaluate each progress and advancement and learn how this will affect the eco-system.  A development earned at the cost of nature will surely cost us more that we can imagine.

In order to give a boost to innovations and research in persistent planning, development, implementing and monitoring of plantation of trees, NGHM launched Centre for Innovations in Green Pathways by the collaboration and involvement of various research institutions, international organizations, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI),YES Bank and World Bank. Three (MoUs) memoranda of understanding were signed between NGHM and three organizations-ITC Ltd, YES Bank Ltd and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Shri Raghav Chandra, Chairman, NHAI mentioned in the national convention that the main aim to establish Centre for Innovations in Green Pathways is to collect ,organize and analyze information locally as well as globally about research, training and capacity building requirement for various stakeholders to motivate inventions in greenery .

The workshop held between 07,Nov 2016 to 09,Nov 2016 turned out to be an effective platform not only for providing a strong framework for the proposed Centre for greenery but also for the entire transport system. Many eminent international organizations and experts discussed various technologies, researches and global trends for ensuring effective development and monitoring of this Highway Projects.

Topics like the advantages of plantations of roadside bamboo, plantations of trees as a tool for road safety, palliate carbon credit through these projects and model for involving local communities and other private organizations to put this mission on fast track were undertaken by various national and international organizations who are engaged in similar initiatives.

According to the NGHM mission, 1% has to be set aside for every National Highway Project.This 1%will be the Fund, which will help in covering the entire stretch of National Roads within 1-2 years. In order to engage public and private organizations, government organizations and institutions for developing green corridors and pathways along this  Project through plantation and other allied activity on median, avenue, and nearby land patches,  NGHM launched Adopt a Green Highway program. Central Public Sector Undertaking (India) like Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Coal India Ltd has already drawn towards the mission under CSR-Corporate Social Responsibility umbrella.

NGHM authorities want to make this whole  highway projects a civil society movement, which demands the involvement of populations from different walks of life to ensure continue plantation and beautification along National Highways.

Plants not only going to help in sequestering 12 lakh metric tonne carbon annually, but will prove a great source of livelihood for the local population. Employment generation, low air pollution, reduction in accidents because of glare from vehicles and arrest of soil erosion are just some of the main benefits which will be availed under this initiative.

The task of the NGHM is to develop green corridors along a highway with the purpose to build to replenish the ecosystem. The highways are implanted with the trees that consume higher amount of Co2 and release oxygen to replenish the damage done by the petroleum and diesel vehicles that run 24*7 on the road. The more trees are planted the easier it becomes to combat the side effect of global warming.

Development at the cost of environment leads us nowhere. It is more like cutting the branch of the tree you are sitting on. Roads and highways are the basic parameters of a nation’s development, a country with sound road system can write the story of the success. In developing countries like India, where construction of the highways and roads are high, it becomes more important for the government as well as for the people to take important steps to preserve the environment. The development of green corridors in India is the example how the government is trying to tackle country’s  development and environment’s security hand in hand.

Highways are important for the economic growth of the country, but the heavy traffic running on these routes is harmful to the environment. The high level of carbon dioxide gas emitted by the vehicles and the heat produced by the engine is bad for nature. The concept of the NGHM is to create balance in nature. They are implanting trees in an aesthetic manner, that not just beautify the route, but also give relaxing and soothing experience to the passer-by, but it also plays an important part in preserving the earth. The whole world is suffering from global warming at this point of time, it is  a high time when authorities should take responsibility and adopt a midway. This is the reason the government and a related department is working in coordination to achieve clean and green national highway.

The traffic on the national highway is immense; it carries almost 40% of  the automobile. While constructing the roads, many trees and forests are cut down. The construction of highways is done at the cost of the environment and it damages the bio-diversity of the area and damages the environment as well. The heavy traffic makes the situation worse, the high emission of greenhouse gasses by the vehicles destroy the environment, and sometimes the level of pollution is so high that it becomes unbearable. Don’t let the smoke choke you, take preventive measure to create the balance and save the environment.

Planting trees on both sides of the road help in reducing air, noise pollution. It also saves from dust and provides shade in hot scorching summer. Tree plantation is also helpful for soil erosion, it reduces the side effect UV radiations. The well-developed green corridors are not just providing a support to the environment, but they make driving less stressful.