The Government of India and the World Bank have signed an agreement for the construction of Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP) in an aggregate length of 781 km in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, with loan assistance of US $ 500 million against total project cost of US $ 1288.24 million (Rs. 7,662.47 crore).
About Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP)
- It is an initiative under the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy, 2015.
- The policy was launched in the year 2015 by the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and shipping (MoRTH).
- The aim of the policy is to promote greening of Highway corridors with participation of the community, farmers, private sector, NGOs, and government institutions.
Objectives of Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNCHP)
- To demonstrate safe and green highway keeping in view climate resilience and use of green technologies by incorporating the provisions of conservation of natural resources.
- This would be achieved by using cement treated sub base/reclaimed asphalt pavement, use of local/ marginal material such as lime, fly ash, waste plastic, bio-engineering measures for slope protection such as hydroseeding, coco/jute fibre etc., which will enhance the ability of Ministry to bring Green technologies into the mainstream.
This project has three components
- The first component includes upgradation and maintenance for five years of selected stretches of existing National Highways in the states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh incorporating green technologies and demonstrating resource efficiency, climate resilience, green and safety aspects.
- The second component focuses on Institutional Capacity Enhancement.
- The third component focuses on Road Safety.
Significance
- The project will enhance the capacity of the MoRTH in mainstreaming safety and green technologies.
- This project will also support analytics to map the freight volume and movement pattern on the national highway network, identify constraints, and provide innovative logistics solutions.
- The project will support the ministry with an in-depth analysis of gender-related issues in the transport sector. It will also help in creating jobs for women by training women-led micro enterprises and women collectives to implement green technologies in the highway corridors.
- The project will strengthen and widen existing structures; construct new pavements, drainage facilities and bypasses; improve junctions; and introduce road safety features.
- The project will provide efficient transportation for road users in the four states, connect people with markets and services and promote efficient use of construction materials.
