India’s Journey Towards Sustainable Road Infrastruture
Source: PIB
GS III: Environment and Ecology, Science and Technology, Infrastructure
Overview
- India is expanding its highway network while integrating green infrastructure, plantation and climate-resilient practices.
- The Green Highways Policy, 2015 promotes plantation, biodiversity, soil conservation and community participation along National Highways.
- Technologies such as NH-GCI, satellite monitoring, bio-bitumen and recycled materials are making highway construction more resource-efficient.
- The focus is shifting from merely expanding road connectivity to balancing infrastructure development with environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Why in the News?
The PIB highlighted India’s shift towards sustainable and climate-resilient highway infrastructure, combining plantation, green technologies, recycled materials and scientific monitoring.
News in Brief
- India’s National Highway network expanded by nearly 61%, from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1,46,572 km in March 2026.
- The Green Highways Policy, 2015 provides the framework for plantation, transplantation, beautification and maintenance along National Highways.
- Green cover is increasingly monitored through drones, satellites and the National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI).
- Sustainable construction is being promoted through bio-bitumen, fly ash, pond ash, recycled asphalt, C&D waste, plastic waste, slag and crumb rubber.
Green Highways Policy, 2015
- The greening of India’s National Highway network is guided by the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Policy, 2015.
- The policy aims to make highways development environmentally sustainable by;
- Reducing the impact of air pollution and dust, as trees and shrubs are known to be natural sinks for air pollutants.
- Arresting soil erosion at the embankment slopes.
- Moderating the effect of wind and incoming radiation.
- Creating employment opportunities for local people.
Major Green Highways Measures
Plantation and Afforestation
- More than 3.61 crore saplings have been planted across approximately 1.32 lakh km of National Highways in the last five years.
- The approach now goes beyond simply planting trees and focuses on:
- Survival and growth of saplings.
- Native and diverse species.
- Compensatory afforestation.
- Tree transplantation.
- Drone and satellite-based monitoring.
- Miyawaki plantations for dense green cover.
- Miyawaki Technique is a method of creating dense forests within limited spaces.
- Also known as the ‘pot plantation method’, it involves planting trees and shrubs close to one another to promote rapid growth and establish forest-like ecosystems in a shorter period.
- Plants can grow up to 10 times faster under this method, making it particularly suitable for expanding green cover in space-constrained urban areas.
Survival-Based Monitoring
- NHAI’s 2026 guidelines link plantation performance with project completion.
- At least 80% of the plantation-designated Right of Way (RoW) should be covered.
- Saplings should have a minimum 90% survival rate during inspection.
- The same survival benchmark applies during the Operations and Maintenance period.
National Highways Green Cover Index
- The NH-GCI 2025–26 provides a scientific assessment of green cover along National Highways.
- Prepared with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO, it covers nearly 30,000 km of National Highways across 24 states under the O&M phase.
- Satellite-based assessment allows comparison, ranking and targeted interventions.
Bio-Bitumen Technology
- India is also moving towards bio-based road construction materials.
- Bio-bitumen via Pyrolysis was developed jointly by CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP agricultural residue.
- Rice straw is converted into bio-oil through pyrolysis and blended with conventional bitumen.
- A 100-metre trial stretch has been laid on the Jorabat-Shillong Expressway (NH-40), Meghalaya.
- The technology can also help manage agricultural residue and reduce dependence on imported bitumen, of which India currently imports nearly 50% of its requirement.
Recycled and Alternative Materials
- Highway construction is increasingly using fly ash and pond ash, reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), Construction and Demolition waste, recycled aggregates, plastic waste, slag, crumb rubber and bio-bitumen.
- This can improve resource efficiency, waste utilization and conservation of natural resources.
Biodiversity and Community Participation
- Highway greenery is also being linked with biodiversity conservation.
- Under the “Trees for Bees” campaign, pollinator corridors are being developed along identified stretches of the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway, using flowering and locally suitable species to provide habitat and food for bees and other pollinators.
Significance and Challenges for India
- Green Highways can;
- Reduce the environmental footprint of expanding road infrastructure.
- Support climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Improve roadside biodiversity and green cover.
- Promote circular economy through waste-based materials.
- Reduce dependence on imported road-construction materials.
- Create livelihood opportunities through plantation activities.
- Combine infrastructure development with environmental protection.
Challenges
- Ensuring long-term survival rather than merely increasing plantation numbers.
- Maintaining green cover during highway expansion and widening.
- Choosing suitable native species according to local ecology.
- Scaling up alternative materials while maintaining road quality and safety.
- Ensuring effective coordination among multiple implementing agencies.
- Sustaining plantations during the Operations and Maintenance phase.
Way Forward and Conclusion
India should focus on survival and long-term maintenance of plantations, wider use of native species, scientific monitoring and greater community participation. Scaling up bio-bitumen and recycled materials can further reduce resource use and the environmental footprint of highway construction.
The aim should be to make highway expansion compatible with ecological sustainability, rather than treating environmental protection as an additional measure. A greener highway network can strengthen connectivity while supporting climate resilience, biodiversity and India’s vision of sustainable infrastructure.
UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question
Consider the following statements regarding India’s Green Highways initiatives:
1. The Green Highways Policy was formulated in 2015.
2. The National Highways Green Cover Index uses satellite-based assessment of green cover.
3. Bio-bitumen technology developed by CSIR institutions uses agricultural residue as a feedstock.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: 1, 2 and 3
Mains Practice Question
Q) Discuss the need for sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure in India’s highway development. (250 words)
Daily Current Affairs: Click Here