In the recent developments, the government has signed a $500 million project with the World Bank for the implementation of the Green National Highways Corridor Project. The focus of the project is to create green and safe transport channels by promoting the use of eco-friendly technologies and enhancing the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Green National Highways Corridor Project Overview
Launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in response to the ‘Green Highways Policy’ introduced in September 2015, the Green National Highways Corridor Projects (GNHCP) aims to mitigate environmental impact and improve safety on selected National Highway corridors across certain states. The ultimate goal of this transport infrastructure initiative is to reduce logistics cost and provide seamless connectivity.
Three Essential Components
The project can be categorized into three main components: Green Highway Corridor Improvement and Maintenance, Institutional Capacity Enhancement, and Road Safety. The first component includes upgrading and 5 year maintenance of about 783 km of selected existing National Highways in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. The Institutional Capacity Enhancement supports MoRTH in conserving natural resources, improving the climate vulnerability of the National Highways network, and reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions. Simultaneously, the project will work on improving road safety data analytics and highway safety monitoring and implementation.
The Pact between Government and World Bank
A USD 500 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the lending arm of the World Bank, has been sanctioned for this endeavor. The loan comes with an 18.5-year maturity term including a five-year grace period.
Significance of the Project
Indian National Highways carry about 40% of road traffic; however, certain sections of these highways have inadequate capacity and prone to accidents, presenting a significant challenge. Furthermore, the transport sector in India has historically offered limited employment opportunities for women. The new project will assist in creating jobs for women by training women-led micro-enterprises and women collectives to implement green technologies along the highway corridors.
Green Highways Policy 2015 Brief
The Green Highways Policy 2015 was designed to promote greening and development of eco-friendly National Highway corridors with the involvement of farmers, private sector, and government institutions, including the Forest Department. The policy aims to address issues blocking sustainable development and reduce the impact of air pollution and dust by planting trees and shrubs along the highways.
About the World Bank
Founded at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development—also known as the World Bank—is part of a closely associated group of five development institutions offering various financial and developmental services from providing loans, credits, and grants to insuring lenders and investors against political risk.
World Bank and India
The World Bank has consistently supported several projects in India even though the country is not a member of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), one of the five development institutions under the World Bank group. Some of these initiatives include the National Hydrology Project, Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) Project, National Nutrition Mission, and National Mission for Clean Ganga, among others.