New Delhi: The Government of India and the World Bank have signed a $500 million agreement to construct the Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP), spanning 781 kilometers across Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
The total project cost is estimated at $1.29 billion (Rs. 7,662.47 crore). This information was provided by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Scheduled for completion by May 2026, the GNHCP includes several innovative approaches to reduce carbon emissions and conserve natural resources throughout its lifecycle.
Key components of the project include the conservation of natural resources by using cement-treated sub-base and reclaimed asphalt pavement, and promoting the use of local and marginal materials such as lime, fly ash, and waste plastic. For slope protection, bio-engineering measures will be employed, including coco fiber/jute erosion control blankets with shrub and grass plantations, hydroseeding, shotcrete crib walls with vegetation, bamboo plantations, hedge brush layers, interlink chain mesh with grass strips, and geocells with hydroseeding.
These green technologies and bio-engineering solutions, particularly in hilly areas, are expected to reduce carbon emissions and ensure the conservation of natural resources during both the construction and operation phases of the project. The GNHCP will provide smooth, all-weather motorable roads, enhancing connectivity and socio-economic development in the region. By improving access to inner regions of the country, the project aims to boost trade, employment opportunities, and inclusive growth, integrating remote areas with mainstream regions.
