The Government of India and the World Bank have signed an agreement to construct the Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP), as announced by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH). This project spans 781 km across Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, supported by a $500 million loan from the World Bank. The total project cost is around $1,288 million (Rs 76.62 billion), with completion scheduled for May 2026.
The GNHCP promotes the use of local and marginal materials, such as lime, fly ash, and waste plastic. It also incorporates bio-engineering measures for slope protection, using innovative techniques like coco fiber, jute erosion control blankets, and shotcrete crib walls with vegetation. Additional methods include bamboo plantations, hedge brush layers, and geocells with hydroseeding. These techniques aim to reduce carbon emissions and conserve natural resources, especially in hilly areas, during both the construction and operation phases.