Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addressed Lok Sabha Question No. 1906 on July 31st, 2025, regarding the Green Highways Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance Project. Since 2015-16, the project has covered approximately 5082 km of National Highways in Tamil Nadu, planting over 27.18 lakh saplings. The initiative aims to provide environmental and social benefits, although challenges persist in implementation and maintenance. The government is actively taking steps to enhance sustainability and community participation in the Green Highways initiative.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Project Overview:**
* The Green Highways project involves plantation, transplantation, beautification, and maintenance along National Highway stretches.
* Since 2015-16, approximately 5082 km of National Highways in Tamil Nadu have been covered.
* Over 27.18 lakh saplings have been planted in Tamil Nadu.
* **Environmental Benefits:**
* Improved air quality through pollutant and dust filtration.
* Carbon sequestration, mitigating climate change.
* Reduction in noise pollution.
* Biodiversity conservation and control of soil erosion.
* Water conservation and climate resilience.
* **Social Benefits:**
* Significant employment opportunities through plantation and maintenance activities.
* Enhanced aesthetic appeal of highways.
* Promotion of community engagement and ownership in environmental conservation.
* Improved road safety, livelihood opportunities and aesthetic values.
* **Challenges:**
* Coordination with State Governments and local communities.
* Maintenance of plants and their survival in running highway conditions.
* **Sustainability and Community Participation:**
* Use of native species in plantations.
* Awareness campaigns to promote environmental consciousness.
* Engaging school children and local communities in plantation activities.
* Implementing special drives like the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0" campaign.
* Ambitious target of planting 55 lakh saplings under the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0" campaign during the current year.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: Required to coordinate with central government agencies for plantation and maintenance activities.
* Action Required: Collaborate effectively to ensure the survival and upkeep of planted trees and plants along highways.
* **Local Communities:**
* Impact: Benefit from employment opportunities, improved aesthetics, and a healthier environment.
* Action Required: Participate in plantation drives and maintenance activities, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.
* **Implementing Agencies:**
* Impact: Responsible for executing the Green Highways project and achieving set targets.
* Action Required: Implement strategies for using native species, conducting awareness campaigns, and engaging communities to enhance sustainability.
* **School Children:**
* Impact: Increased awareness and participation in environmental conservation efforts.
* Action Required: Actively participate in plantation drives like "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0" and promote environmental awareness in their communities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways and transport infrastructure.
Shri Tharaniventhan M S: The Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding Green Highways in Lok Sabha.
Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways who answered the question in Lok Sabha.
Green Highways Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance Project: A project focused on planting trees and beautifying national highways in India.
National Highways: The network of highways maintained by the central government of India.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where a specific length of National Highways has been covered under the Green Highways project.
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: A campaign to encourage plantation drives with community and school children participation.
Green Highways Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance Policy: The policy under which plantation is being undertaken along various National Highway stretches in the country.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1906
ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY, 2025
GREEN HIGHWAYS
1906. Shri Tharaniventhan M S:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the Green Highways (Plantation,
Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Project, including
the total length of highways covered and number of trees planted
within Tamil Nadu;
(b) the environmental and social benefits achieved so far, particularly
in terms of carbon sequestration, air quality improvement and
biodiversity conservation;
(c) the challenges faced in the implementation and maintenance of
green cover along highways, including issues related to funding,
coordination with State Governments and survival rate of plantations;
and
(d) the steps being taken to enhance the sustainability and community
participation in the Green Highways initiative?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) Under the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation,
Beautification and Maintenance) Policy, plantation is being undertakenalong various National Highway stretches in the country. Since 2015-
16, approximately 5082 km of National Highways in Tamil Nadu have
been covered with the plantation of over 27.18 lakh saplings till date.
(b) Greening of highways has ensured significant environmental
benefits in terms of air quality improvement, carbon sequestration,
reduction in noise pollution, air quality improvement, and biodiversity
conservation control of soil erosion, water conservation, climate
resilience and biodiversity conservation. Environmentally, the trees
planted act as significant carbon sinks, directly mitigating climate
change, and drastically improve air quality by filtering pollutants and
dust. Socially, the project has generated significant employment
opportunities through plantation and maintenance activities, while
also enhancing the aesthetic appeal of highways and promoting
community engagement and ownership in environmental
conservation. Social benefits also include improved road safety,
livelihood opportunities and aesthetic values.
(c) While insurmountable challenges are faced with as the plantation
and maintenance of trees and plants are done in coordination with the
State Governments as well as with local communities, maintenance of
the plants and its survival in running highway conditions will always
pose a challenge.
(d) Government through its implementing agencies is taking several
steps such as use of native species, awareness campaigns etc., to
enhance sustainability and community participation
including engaging school children and the local communities in the
plantation activities and special drives like Ek Pad Maa Ke Naam.
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0 campaign is being implemented across the
country where school children and community participation in
plantation drive is being encouraged. During the current year, an
ambitious target of 55 lakh saplings has been set under the campaign
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0.
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