Focus on reducing greenhouse gas emission
The Government is developing 22 greenfield corridors, including five express-highways and 17 Access Control Highways as it intensify focus on undertaking environment-friendly development.
Stating this, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari underlined the key features of green highways, saying that work on these projects was in line with the goals of reduction in greenhouse gas emission, carbon footprint, and the use of non-renewable energy sources.
Steps have been taken to ensure conservation of water, like rain water harvesting, and artificial ground water recharge system along the National Highways, he told the “Virtual National Roads & Highways Summit with Focus on Green Infrastructure” held on 24 Mar 2021. Also, use of solar power is being made mandatory for all toll plazas.
The Ministry has taken a decision to add 10% plastic or rubber in the modified bitumen for road and bridge construction work, which is very important from environment point of view. He informed that the Ministry is also planning to use coir and jute carpet in road construction.
Gadkari said that a Green Highway Mission has been constituted in NHAI, where plantation has been carried out along the highways.
The Minister called for the adoption of transplantation technology to save the existing trees, adding the the Ministry plans to have 1,000 contractors for transplantation so that there is no need to cut even a single tree.
The Ministry has also issued direction to all implementing agencies to avoid sanctuaries, national parks, at the planning stage and take a detour, wherever possible, he informed.
In terms of road connectivity, significant work is being done under Golden Quadrilateral Project, NHDP program, Bharatmala, PMGSY, SetuBharatam, and Sagarmala Project.
Gadkari specifically mentioned Delhi-Meerut Expressway, which will reduce travel time between the two cities to just 45 minutes in next two months, from present time of around four hours.
The Ministry is looking at ways and adopting technology to reduce use of steel and cement in road construction.
The Minister said that waste to wealth and waste to energy is one of the important sustainable solutions to tackle environmental issues. #projects #tenders #contracts #investment #environment /fiinews.com
