NHAI Implements New Guidelines for Highway Plantation Compliance
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has rolled out new comprehensive guidelines that mandate plantation and landscaping as essential elements of National Highway projects. These measures aim to ensure strict adherence to contractual obligations and enhance environmental sustainability along highway corridors.
Under the revised guidelines, NHAI emphasizes that median and avenue plantation must be executed in full compliance with the contract or concession agreements and align with the Green Highways Policy, 2015. This policy is supported by additional rules such as IRC:SP:21-2009 and other relevant directives issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Minimum Requirements for Project Completion
A notable addition to the new guidelines is the establishment of a minimum threshold that must be met before a Provisional Certificate of Completion (PCC) or Provisional Commercial Operation Date (PCOD) can be issued. For a project to be deemed compliant, plantation efforts must cover at least 80% of the designated Right of Way (ROW) earmarked for planting, with planted saplings achieving a survival rate of at least 90% during inspections by NHAI officials.
Addressing Plantation Shortfalls
If the plantation falls short of the required 80% threshold, contractors are obligated to specify the shortfall along with a timeline for completing the necessary planting. Financial penalties consistent with the terms of the relevant Contract or Concession Agreement will be enforced until all plantation commitments are fulfilled.
Enhanced Maintenance Requirements
NHAI has also strengthened its maintenance requirements for plantations during the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) phase of highway projects. Annuity payments tied to Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) projects will be disbursed only when a minimum 90% sapling survival rate is maintained throughout the O&M period.
Expert Verification for Compliance
Guidelines further mandate that plant casualties must be promptly replaced to sustain the desired plantation density. In cases of tree mortality, replacements will be required to match the age and growth characteristics of the original plants to maintain uniformity. NHAI will engage environmental and plantation experts to verify compliance before processing any O&M payments or certifying maintenance standards.
This move by NHAI comes after observations that earlier plantation commitments were often overlooked during the awarding of PCC and PCOD for various highway projects. The updated guidelines demonstrate NHAI’s strong commitment to integrating environmental stewardship into the development and maintenance of National Highways.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
