Ghaziabad: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, launched a nationwide plantation drive today under the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Campaign 2024, marking a significant step towards environmental sustainability. The drive, held in conjunction with the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, aims to promote a cleaner and greener India in alignment with the Swachh Bharat Mission, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
The plantation drive was inaugurated at the Duhai interchange of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, where Nitin Gadkari, alongside Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra and former MoS V.K. Singh, planted trees to commemorate the occasion. The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative was originally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the broader government efforts to combat pollution and improve environmental sustainability.
Gadkari emphasized the critical importance of reducing pollution, particularly through the adoption of technological advancements and the promotion of electric vehicles. “Fossil fuel emissions from vehicles are a major contributor to pollution, affecting our health and reducing life expectancy. It is our responsibility to reduce pollution levels for a healthier and better life for everyone,” he stated.
Green Corridors and Environmental Sustainability
Highlighting the government’s efforts, Gadkari pointed out the ongoing work to create Green Corridors across India, with initiatives such as bamboo plantations, dense tree plantations, and vertical landscaping along the National Highways. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has already planted around 46 lakh trees this year and adopted the Japanese Miyawaki method of plantation, resulting in 4 lakh trees being planted across eight locations in Delhi-NCR.
In a unique eco-friendly initiative, NHAI has also installed ‘Bamboo Crash Barriers’ along a 10 km stretch of various National Highways, marking a significant move towards sustainable infrastructure development.
Swachhata Pledge and Mass Participation
During the event, Gadkari administered the Swachhata pledge to all officials and participants, reinforcing the importance of cleanliness and environmental stewardship. More than 30,000 people nationwide joined in the plantation drive, contributing to the larger mission of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and marking the beginning of this year’s Swachhata Pakhwada.
At the Duhai interchange, Gadkari and other senior officials visited bamboo and dense plantation sites. Gadkari praised the 100 percent survival rate of the plants planted last year, demonstrating the success of the government’s greening initiatives.
Senior officials, including Anurag Jain, Secretary MoRTH, and Santosh Kumar Yadav, NHAI Chairman, also participated by planting saplings alongside over 1,000 trees planted by officials from MoRTH, NHAI, and NHIDCL at the event site. Similar drives were conducted by ministry field offices across the country.
Since the implementation of the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification, and Maintenance) Policy 2015, NHAI has planted nearly 4 crore trees and transplanted around 70,000 trees along National Highways, reinforcing the ministry’s commitment to a sustainable National Highway network.