New Delhi: In a landmark initiative to promote environmental sustainability, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has undertaken a massive plantation drive, planting around 17,000 trees along the Faridabad-Noida International Airport Corridor. This effort commemorates the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign and reaffirms the government’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure development.
The plantation drive was led by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, and was attended by key dignitaries including Shri Ajay Tamta and Shri Harsh Malhotra (Ministers of State for Road Transport and Highways), Dr. Mahesh Sharma (MP – Gautam Buddha Nagar), Shri Dhirendra Singh (MLA – Jewar), NHAI Chairman Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav, and other senior officials. School students also participated in the drive, planting saplings and spreading awareness about green initiatives.
Reducing Emissions, Promoting Sustainability
Shri Nitin Gadkari, speaking on the occasion, emphasized the need to reduce pollution caused by fossil fuels and reiterated the government’s push toward alternative fuels such as ethanol. He stressed that large-scale plantation drives, waste utilization in road construction, and rainwater harvesting are key strategies being employed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for environmental conservation.
He lauded the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign as a noble and impactful initiative, noting that around 5 crore trees have been planted along National Highways so far.
Greening the Faridabad-Noida International Airport Corridor
The Faridabad-Noida International Airport Road, a critical link between Delhi-NCR and the upcoming Noida International Airport in Jewar, is being developed not just as a connectivity corridor but as a model of green infrastructure. The planting of 17,000 trees is expected to:
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Improve air quality
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Reduce soil erosion
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Boost regional biodiversity
This corridor is now seen as a pioneering model for eco-conscious highway development that balances infrastructure expansion with ecological responsibility.
NHAI’s Commitment to a Green Highway Network
NHAI has intensified its focus on creating Green Corridors through innovative methods such as:
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Bamboo plantations
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Dense forestation techniques
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Vertical landscaping
The authority exceeded its 2024–25 target by planting 67 lakh trees against a target of 60 lakh. Under the ongoing ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’, more than 12 lakh trees have already been planted nationwide this year.
Since the Green Highways Policy (2015) was implemented, NHAI has planted 4.78 crore trees and transplanted nearly 70,000 trees, reinforcing its vision of building a sustainable and green national highway network.
This event not only aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for environmental responsibility but also positions the Faridabad-Noida Airport Corridor as a national benchmark in green infrastructure development, paving the way for future eco-conscious road projects across the country.
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Souce: PIB
