Question : National Green Highways Mission

(a) whether the Union Government has launched National Green Highways Mission to give green canopied highways to the commuters;

(b) if so, whether the existing guidelines of National Green Highways mission to give green canopied highways to the commuters extensively helpful to achieve the intended objective;

(c) if so, the extent to which the plantation and maintenance of green buffer zone along highways under National Green Highways Mission is achieved at national level;

(d) whether the green cover needs to be increased so that they can take remedial measures for improving carbon sequestration capability of national highways, and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard;

(e) whether the road transport ministry is working on a proposal with the ministry of Defence to construct runways on highway stretches, and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Government has identified the spots, and if so, the details thereof and the time by which the work on these projects is likely to be started?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) to (d) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification, & Maintenance) Policy, 2015 for development of green cover all along the highways, as per the availability of space within the Right of Way, and relevant specifications.

(e) and (f) Discussions are being held for setting up emergency landing facilities along major National Highway corridors for fixed wing Aircrafts between MoRTH, Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force. It has been decided to constitute an Inter-Ministerial Coordination Group (IMG) of the Ministry, Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force officials for achieving the objectives. IMG is being constituted.

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