NHAI joins hands with PFC for green highway in Nagpur

Aug 17, 2016: National Green Highways Mission (NGHM) under NHAI inks pact with Power Finance Corporation (PFC) for plantations work on NH 7 in Nagpur region (Borkhedi - Wadner, & Khatara -Kelapur) covering 87 kilometre stretch.

Power Finance Corporation has provided financial assistance of Rs. 13 crore for plantation and five year maintenance under their CSR funds.

The project will initiate with immediate effect after signing of MoA.

Adopt a Green Highway Programme is an initiative by NGHM to engage Corporates, Public Sector Units, Governmental organisations, institutions and individuals under CSR and Public Private Partnership for developing green corridor along NHs.

A.K. Bhattacharya, MD, NGHM informed that this will open new vistas for PSUs & corporate houses to utilise their CSR funds for greening of highways and creation of ecological assets.

Discussions with other PSUs such as Coal India and other corporates are under process to promote greening of highways.

For the proposed work in Nagpur, NGHM has engaged four empanelled agencies to execute plantation and maintenance work. The agencies have been mandated to engage atleast 70 percent work force from the local community, thereby enhancing livelihood opportunity.

Out of these four agencies, three are start-ups, which is in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote startup India campaign.

A formal MoA was signed between PFC and NHAI on August 16, 2016 at NHAI headquarters in the presence of Raghav Chandra, chairman - NHAI, G.S. Ghai, executive director - PFC, A.K. Bhattacharya, MD NGHM and other senior officials of PFC and NHAI.