In a significant push for environmental sustainability, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched a nationwide plantation drive as part of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Campaign 2024. The event, held at the Duhai interchange of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, witnessed the participation of over 30,000 people in a collective effort to green India. The initiative, titled ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,’ marks the beginning of this year’s Swachhata Pakhwada, a nationwide cleanliness and sustainability fortnight.
Joined by Minister of State Harsh Malhotra and former MoS V.K. Singh, Gadkari planted saplings at the site, emphasizing the government’s commitment to combating pollution and fostering a cleaner environment. Addressing the gathering, he reiterated the importance of transitioning to eco-friendly technologies like electric vehicles and highlighted the urgent need to reduce emissions from fossil fuels, which are a leading cause of air pollution and adverse health effects in India.
“Pollution from vehicles is not just an environmental concern, but a serious public health issue that affects life expectancy. It is our collective responsibility to take action, reduce emissions, and ensure a healthier future for our children,” Gadkari stated.
The minister also visited bamboo and dense plantation sites along the interchange, commending the efforts that led to a 100% survival rate of last year’s planted saplings. Officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) joined the plantation efforts, planting over 1,000 trees during the event.
The NHAI has been actively working on creating Green Corridors, focusing on bamboo plantations, dense green belts, and vertical landscaping to promote environmental sustainability. To date, the authority has planted an impressive 46 lakh trees nationwide this year alone. Furthermore, the innovative use of ‘Bamboo Crash Barriers’ along National Highways, spanning about 10 km, showcases India’s growing commitment to eco-friendly infrastructure.
NHAI’s adoption of the Japanese Miyawaki method for rapid and dense forestation has already resulted in the planting of 4 lakh trees across 53 acres in Delhi-NCR. These initiatives are part of the broader Green Highways Policy (2015), under which NHAI has planted 4 crore trees and transplanted around 70,000 trees along National Highways to date.
As India marks the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign serves as a reminder of the nation’s commitment to not only cleanliness but also sustainability. Through this large-scale plantation drive, the country continues its journey toward a greener, cleaner, and healthier future for all.
Senior officials from MoRTH, NHAI, and NHIDCL were present at the launch, reinforcing the collective effort toward building a sustainable National Highway network.
