To commemorate World Environment Day, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Regional Office, Madurai organized a series of environmental sustainability drives across various Highway projects in southern Tamil Nadu, reinforcing its commitment to green infrastructure. As part of its long-term conservation effort, NHAI has successfully planted over 2000 saplings, sowed 100 palm seeds, and distributed 600 eco-friendly cloth bags to commuters across various National Highway sections today.
The initiative highlights NHAI’s focus on sustainable infrastructure development to ecological preservation, aligning closely with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The eco-friendly bags distribution and plantation drives with toll plaza commuters, local villagers, and students at major intersections to sensitize them on eliminating single-use plastics and promoting sustainable habits. An official pledge to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable ways of living was also administered with students and staff during the event.
Underscoring the strategic integration of safety and sustainability, the Regional Officer, NHAI Madurai, emphasized the organization's focus on ecological balance. He said that "Our responsibility extends far beyond building world-class Highways; NHAI is dedicated to building sustainable corridors. Achieving substantial green cover across our networks is a top priority. We are actively maintaining major NH stretches with an approx 80% green cover and executing scientific tree transplants with high survival rates and building rain water harvesting structures. These activities under the Regional Office, Madurai are the testament to our proactive efforts towards environment and ensuring economic growth goes hand-in-hand with preservation. Furthermore, these initiatives will help to create awareness among students and the public, motivating them to adopt eco-friendly day to day practices."
Speaking on the occasion, the Joint Adviser, NHAI informed that, "The 54th World Environment Day serves as a vital reminder to integrate eco-friendly ideas into our core Highway operations. By combining active plantation drives with community-focused awareness initiatives like distributing eco-friendly cloth bags to staff, the public, and students, NHAI is fostering a collective culture of environmental responsibility. A Greener Highway is inherently a safer, more sustainable highway for future generations. Today, we took a joint pledge with students and commuters to make conscious, eco-friendly changes in our daily lives."
The plantation drives include native species like Neem, Pungam, Naval, Palm,etc and plantation will continue across various ongoing project units in the region, backed by a proactive institutional monitoring mechanism and regular maintenance works to ensure high survival rates of the saplings.