PM Narendra Modi-led NDA government plans to provide ‘green canopy’ on national highways at an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore and may link that with NREGA to boost rural economy, creating a large number of jobs.
“Roads must be viewed as green highway opportunities. Aside from the environmental and aesthetic aspects, they have a huge potential to generate jobs and can immensely benefit the rural economy. It may even be linked with the NREGA scheme,” Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said, addressing a workshop on Greening of Highways, jointly organised by NHAI and TERI.
He said at least Rs 5,000 crore would be spent on providing a green cover on national highways which would be game changer for rural economy and can employ multitudes of women and children.
Under the Green Highways policy, which will be implemented from June this year, the government has made it mandatory to set aside 1 per cent of the total project cost of any highways contract to a “Green Fund” corpus for plantation. The minister said that so far road contracts worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore have been awarded and the number would swell to Rs 2 lakh crore by next month.
On the occasion, NHAI Chairman Raghav Chandra said, “We have set aside 1 per cent of our project cost for transplantation, plantation, beautification and maintenance. We have adequate funds and we intend to use it for setting SOPs, build capacity and imbibe the best global practices.” TERI Director General Ajay Mathur said, “Given that land for new plantation is limited, additional tree cover would come out from approaches such as intense plantation along highways.