Union Ministry of Road Transport launched Green Highways Policy, 2015

Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari on 29 September 2015 launched Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Policy, 2015.

The policy that seeks to promote green covers along National Highway corridors was launched at the National Conference in New Delhi.

Main Highlights

• The Green Highway Policy will make it compulsory for road developers to set aside 1 percent of the Total Project Cost (TPC) for Highway Plantation and Maintenance.

• The policy seeks participation from the various segments of community including farmers, private sectors, government institutions and NGOs.

• The scheme will supposedly spend 1000 crore rupees for trees plantation along National Highways in the fiscal year 2015-16.

• Once implemented, the scheme will help in creating huge employment opportunities and entrepreneurship development.

• Besides, the policy will also help in cutting down the carbon footprints and hugely benefit the environment.

Green Highway Fund

• The policy calls for creation of fund account called Green Highways Fund (GHF) for developing green covers along the NH corridors.

• The GHF will be created from the fund collected through 1 percent of the TPC contributed by the developers.

• NHAI will act only as a Fund Manager for maintaining the Account and releasing payments

Background

The policy is the revised version of the Circular dated 20 May 1976 that called for maintenance of trees and plantation of new ones on existing roads to be done from funds allocated for maintenance and repair of National Highways.

The Circular was updated on 26 November 1996 thereby permitting public sector corporations/reputed private companies/voluntary organizations to develop & maintain tree plantation.

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