Majority Of Transplanted Banyan Trees Have Survived In Baramati-Indapur Section Of National Highways, Says Gadkari

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari has said 85 per cent of successfully transplanted 1,025 Banyan trees along the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg, Maharashtra located on the Baramati-Indapur section of NH-965G have survived.

Gadkari in a series of tweets informed that in February and March 2022, the Ministry conducted a transplantation project along the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Marg, Maharashtra located on the Baramati-Indapur section of NH-965G.

"During this project, we successfully transplanted 1,025 banyan trees to the edge of the Right of Way (ROW). Currently, 870 of the transplanted trees (85 per cent) have survived", he tweeted.

Gadkari said the transplanted trees are thriving and displaying healthy growth with the development of robust foliage every day.

He said the project has not only helped in preserving the environment but has also provided a pleasing visual experience for the visitors traveling along the road.

As part of the Green Highways Project, the government has made it mandatory to set aside 1 per cent of the total project cost of any National Highways contract to a Green Fund corpus that will be used for plantation purposes.

The afforestation is expected to help in sequestering approximately 12 lakh metre of carbon annually.

There is a tree plantation drive going on currently along the National Highways which include plantation, transplantation, beautification and maintenance aiming to develop eco-friendly National Highways with the participation of community, farmers, NGOs and private sector.

The policy is expected to help improve aesthetics of the project corridors, reduce the impact of air pollution and reduce accidents by cutting down glare from approaching vehicles.