Raipur. September 19, 2025. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is laying a network of roads in the country on one hand, while on the other hand, it is also preparing green corridors by planting saplings on the sides and dividers of highways. Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign, the National Highways Authority of India has set a new record by planting more than two lakh 71 thousand saplings on the sides and dividers of national highways in Chhattisgarh this year. Along with the expansion of national highways, the authority is also converting them into ‘Green Corridors’.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign is giving a new direction to greenery, cleanliness and environmental protection in Chhattisgarh. The planting of more than two lakh 71 thousand saplings on national highways is proof that road construction is not only the foundation of development, but also a resolution for clean air and a green life for future generations. Citizens in Chhattisgarh are getting both the path of progress and the shade of greenery from the national highways. He said that this effort of Green Corridor will establish Chhattisgarh among the leading states in the country not only in terms of traffic facilities but also in environmental balance.
It is noteworthy that the National Highways Authority of India has planted more trees than the target set this year under the ambitious ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ campaign of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the national highways of Chhattisgarh. A maximum of 97 thousand 145 saplings have been planted in the Raipur-Visakhapatnam (NH-130CD) project. After this, 46 thousand 141 saplings on Maharashtra border-Durg-Raipur-Odisha border (NH-53), 23 thousand 020 saplings on Champa-Korba-Katghora (NH-149B) route, 16 thousand 847 saplings on Bilaspur-Katghora (NH-130) route, 14 thousand 400 saplings on Bilaspur-Urga-Patthalgaon (NH-130A) route and 5406 saplings have been planted in the Simga-Raipur-Dhamtari (NH-30) project.
Saplings have been planted in the form of median plantation on the dividers of national highways, while plantation has been done in the form of avenue plantation on the sides. These include a large number of large fruit-bearing and shady trees. Along with planting saplings in new areas, replantation has also been done at 68 thousand 297 places to replace the damaged saplings in the previous years. In this way, a total of two lakh 71 thousand 253 saplings have been planted on national highways so far (till September 15, 2025) in the current financial year 2025-26.
Regional Officer, National Highways Authority of India, Raipur, Shri Pradeep Kumar Lal said that ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ is not just a tree plantation campaign, but it is an investment for the future generation. Our aim is not only to build roads, but also to create a healthy and beautiful environment. He said that two lakh two thousand 959 new saplings have been planted in various national highways of Chhattisgarh this year, while replantation has been done at 68 thousand 297 places. In this way, a total of two lakh 71 thousand 253 saplings have been planted on the national highways of Chhattisgarh this year (in 2025-26) so far.