The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has embarked on collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to usher in a new era of environmental monitoring for the extensive network of National Highways in the country. This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding for a three-year period, aims to revolutionize the assessment and enhancement of green cover along the National Highways.
Since the inception of the Green Highways Policy in 2015, greening highway corridors has been a key focus for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and NHAI. The conventional approach to monitoring plantations through site visits by field personnel is set to be transformed by the integration of cutting-edge technology into the process.
Utilizing the advanced capabilities of high-resolution satellite imagery, the NRSC will develop and report a “Green Cover Index” for National Highways, providing a comprehensive and reliable macro-level estimate of the greenery along these vital transportation routes. This innovative approach promises to be a time-saving and cost-effective solution, allowing for efficient monitoring and targeted interventions in regions lacking adequate green cover.
Headquartered in Hyderabad, NRSC, under ISRO, is tasked with establishing ground stations for receiving satellite data, generating data products, and developing techniques for remote sensing applications. Having already conducted successful pilot projects for estimating green cover along National Highways, NRSC is well-equipped to lead this ambitious initiative.
The project’s overarching goal is to capture the Green Cover Index region-wise for National Highways in the first assessment cycle. Subsequent annual cycles will focus on estimating the growth patterns of green cover using scientific techniques. This data-driven approach will enable a comparison and ranking of various National Highways, facilitating timely and targeted interventions.
As part of this initiative, the Green Cover Index will be estimated for every 1 km length of the National Highways, providing granular metrics for individual projects/packages. This reflects a sincere commitment to evaluating NHAI’s pivotal role in fostering the green transformation of highways and contributing to the nation’s overall environmental well-being.
The collaboration between NHAI and NRSC is a testament to the power of technology and innovation in advancing environmental sustainability. The ‘Green Cover Index’ project is set to be a milestone in India’s commitment to green infrastructure and will serve as a model for future endeavours in the intersection of transportation and environmental conservation.
