NHAI approves pilot for developing greenbelts along highways

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) today approved a pilot project for developing greenbelts along the national highways (NHs).

"NHAI has approved a pilot project submitted by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur for undertaking scientific studies on designing greenbelts along national highways," an official statement said today.

The project will be implemented on a 5 km stretch on NH-7 between Jam and Hinganghat in Nagpur region at an estimated cost of Rs 11.80 crore, it added.

Around 20,000 trees of scientifically chosen species have been proposed to be planted on both sides of the stretch in multiple rows.

The work activities have been delineated considering two major factors -- highway requirement and objectives as well as plant characteristics to fit in the site requirement.

The project will run for five years and during this period various experiments will be conducted in NEERI laboratory to record the impact of greenbelt development, the statement said.

Besides developing greenbelt, the project will also assist in developing relevant research infrastructure that may be used for similar studies in future, it added.