The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), is executing a large-scale greening programme on India’s National Highway network. Over five years through July 2026, more than 3.61 crore saplings have been planted across 1.32 lakh km of highways. The initiative also includes a shift towards sustainable construction materials, including bio-bitumen made from farm residue, and satellite-based monitoring of green cover. This approach aims to address air pollution, soil erosion and climate resilience while building connectivity.
Key facts
- 3.61 crore saplings planted on National Highways in the last five years (as of July 2026)
- Plantation coverage spans approximately 1.32 lakh km of National Highways
- National Highway network has grown from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1,46,572 km by March 2026 (61% increase)
- Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Policy, 2015 governs the programme
- NHAI September 2026 guidelines require at least 80% of available Right of Way earmarked for plantation to be covered for project completion certification
- Planted saplings must achieve 90% survival rate at inspection and during operations and maintenance phase
- National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) report released for 2025-26 covers 30,000 km of highways under operations and maintenance across 24 states
- Bio-Bitumen technology transferred in January 2026; 100-metre trial laid on Jorabat-Shillong Expressway (NH-40) in Meghalaya
- India meets nearly 50% of bitumen requirement through imports; bio-bitumen aims to reduce this dependence
- Green Highways Excellence Awards instituted by NHAI in 2025; 2026 awards prioritised plantation survival, species diversity and native species use
The Green Highways Policy framework
The Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Policy, 2015 establishes the institutional foundation for roadside greening. It was designed to create a policy framework for large-scale plantation along National Highways, reduce air pollution and dust through natural sinks, arrest soil erosion on embankment slopes, and create local employment opportunities. Implementation involves multiple stakeholders including Self Help Groups, private agencies, State Forest Departments, Forest Corporations and contractors. A Plantation Cell established within NHAI’s regional offices oversees monitoring and compliance across the network.
Planting methods and survival standards
The programme has evolved from simple roadside planting to include advanced techniques such as Miyawaki plantations, which are dense forest ecosystems created in limited spaces. Under this method, trees and shrubs are planted close together to grow up to 10 times faster than conventional planting, establishing forest-like conditions within a shorter timeframe. This approach is particularly suited to space-constrained areas where rapid green cover expansion is needed.
NHAI’s September 2026 guidelines set strict completion standards. A highway project can receive provisional completion certification only if at least 80% of the designated Right of Way (the legal land area required for highway construction and maintenance) allocated for plantation is covered with planted saplings. Critically, all saplings must achieve a minimum survival rate of 90% at the time of official inspection. This same survival benchmark continues during the operations and maintenance phase, with provisions for replacement of plants that fail to survive.
Satellite monitoring and scientific assessment
Traditionally, plantation monitoring relied on field personnel site visits. This has been supplemented by drone and satellite-based systems. The National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI), developed in collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre of ISRO, marks a shift towards quantitative scientific assessment. The first annual report, released for 2025-26, covers nearly 30,000 km of highways under operations and maintenance across 24 states, with observations recorded before and after monsoon season. This satellite-based approach establishes reliable baselines for monitoring and allows comparison and ranking of plantations along different highway sections, enabling targeted interventions for improved management.
Bio-bitumen: India’s sustainable road material innovation
In January 2026, the Ministry of Science and Technology, through CSIR-Central Road Research Institute and CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, successfully transferred bio-bitumen technology to industrial scale. Bio-bitumen is produced via pyrolysis of farm residue, particularly post-harvest rice straw, and is then blended with conventional bitumen for road paving. This technology addresses multiple challenges: India currently imports nearly 50% of its bitumen requirement, and the innovation offers a domestic, cost-effective alternative while managing agricultural residue.
The process generates multiple value streams beyond road binders, including energy-efficient gaseous fuel, bio-pesticide fractions and high-grade carbon for batteries and water purification. A 100-metre trial stretch was successfully laid on the Jorabat-Shillong Expressway (NH-40) in Meghalya, demonstrating commercial feasibility. India became the first country to scale bio-bitumen technology to industrial and commercial levels within the same year of approval. Plans are underway to integrate this into national highway construction standards.
Wider use of recycled and waste-derived materials
Beyond bio-bitumen, highway construction increasingly incorporates recycled and industrial by-products. Fly ash from thermal power plants and pond ash are used in embankments and structural works. Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, recycled aggregates, plastic waste, slag and crumb rubber are used in suitable highway projects according to technical specifications. These practices reduce natural resource extraction, improve resource efficiency and address environmental concerns linked to highway construction.
Community engagement and pollinator corridors
Highway greening is increasingly linked to community participation and biodiversity conservation. Along identified stretches of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, pollinator corridors under the “Trees for Bees” campaign use flowering species suited to local conditions. These provide nectar and pollen across seasons, creating continuous habitat for bees and other pollinators. Andhra Pradesh has planted 18 lakh seedlings between 2010 and 2025 through avenue and median plantations, with a target of 3.86 lakh additional saplings for 2026-27. On World Environment Day 2026, approximately 3,200 saplings were planted under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative.
What this means for you
Highway users can expect improved air quality, shade and reduced dust pollution as roadside plantations mature. Farmers in regions with highways can benefit from markets for farm residue used in bio-bitumen production, creating an alternative income stream. Communities along highways have employment opportunities through plantation and maintenance work. Environmentally conscious citizens and researchers can access standardised satellite-based data on green cover through the National Highways Green Cover Index, enabling transparency and accountability in highway greening efforts.
What happens next
Bio-bitumen technology is planned for integration into national highway construction standards. State governments and NHAI will continue monitoring plantations through satellite imagery and field inspections to maintain the 90% survival benchmark. The Green Highways Excellence Awards will continue to recognise best practices in plantation and greening initiatives across the country.