The Authority — road construction wing under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) — is mandated to develop, maintain and manage the national highways.At present, the total length of NH network is about 1.46 lakh km and about 38,842 km length is under development. During the current financial year 2024-25, the ministry has planned to take up maintenance of about 25,000 km of roads.The selection process will be based on an eight-point evaluation system that will assess adherence to timelines, quality of planting material, survival rate, protection measures, species selection, and compliance with the guidelines laid down by the Indian Road Congress (IRC).Since the launch of the Green Highways Policy, NHAI has planted more than 5.12 lakh saplings across the country. The Authority’s broader vision is to saturate green cover along all national highways by involving various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and private institutions.In a recent step towards this vision, NHAI organised a plantation drive along the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, where 40,000 saplings are planned to be planted.Officials noted that such awards would not only acknowledge outstanding contributions but also serve as an incentive for other organisations to adopt similar environmental practices, creating a green and sustainable national highway ecosystem.
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