India, World Bank inks $500 mn pact for Green National Highway Corridors Project

Representative Image

MUMBAI, Maharashtra: The Indian government has partnered with the World Bank to provide $500 million for the construction of the Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP) in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

The project is expected to have a total cost of $1.29 billion. According to a press release, the GNHCP is scheduled for completion by May 2026 and will implement various advanced strategies to reduce carbon emissions and conserve natural resources over its lifespan.

The project incorporates a variety of features, including the utilisation of cement-treated subbase and asphalt pavement to preserve natural resources. It will also promote the use of marginal or local materials like lime, fly ash, and waste plastic. Additionally, it incorporates bio-engineering techniques to safeguard the slope, such as hydroseeding, shotcrete crib walls with vegetation, bamboo plantations, hedge brush layers, and interlink chain mesh with grass strips.

Throughout the project’s duration, from construction to operation, the use of environmentally friendly technology and bioengineering solutions, especially in hilly regions, is expected to reduce carbon emissions and ensure the conservation of natural resources.