Bengaluru: With a view to improving the capacity of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)in mainstreaming safety and green technologies, the Government of India and the World Bank signed a $500 million project to build safe and green national highway corridors in the states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. 

As per the project, The Green National Highways Corridors Project will support MoRTH in constructing 783 km of highways in various geographies by integrating safe and green technology designs such as local and marginal materials, industrial by-products, and other bioengineering solutions. The project will help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the construction and maintenance of highways.

Apart from protecting the environment, the project will also provide a lot of employment opportunities. 

The core aim of the project is to provide efficient and seamless transport and also reduce logistics costs. It will also have mechanism for tracking freight volume. 

It is also interesting to note that the project will help generate jobs for women as well, thereby giving an impetus to gender equality. 

“Connectivity for economic growth and connectivity for sustainable development are two important aspects of a country’s development trajectory. This operation brings these two priorities together in support of India’s growth strategy,” said Mr Junaid Ahmad, World Bank Country Director in India. 

“This project will provide efficient transportation for road users in the four states, connect people with markets and services, promote efficient use of construction materials and water to reduce the depletion of scarce natural resources, and help lower GHG emissions,” he added.

Uttar Pradesh to use plastic to build roads

While such a project has been signed, the Uttar Pradesh government has also decided to make use of single-use plastic in the construction of roads. 

This will go a long way in reducing environmental pollution.