NHAI Revises Highway Plantation Rules to Ensure 80% Coverage and 90% Survival

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued strict revised guidelines to enhance highway greening and roadside afforestation nationwide. Under the new operational norms, project contractors and concessionaires are legally obligated to utilize at least 80% of the available Right of Way (RoW) earmarked for environmental plantation.

Road transport accounts for significant carbon emissions and micro-pollutants along transit corridors. Highway afforestation initiatives align with the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance) Policy launched in 2015, which aims to reduce noise pollution, prevent soil erosion, and build green corridors along national transport arteries.

The revised directives mandate a minimum sapling survival rate of 90%, failure of which will attract monetary penalties and performance rating deductions for highway contractors. Geotagging technology, satellite surveillance, and periodic third-party auditing will monitor plantation density and sapling maintenance across all completed and ongoing highway stretches.

For aspirants, this updates key policies under Environment, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Development for GS Paper III. Potential exam questions include Green Highway Policy provisions, compulsory afforestation metrics, and eco-friendly infrastructure models used by public authorities.