Bhubaneswar, August 5: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has planted over 2.40 lakh saplings along National Highways across Odisha.

According to the NHAI Regional Office (Odisha), in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack alone more than 2,000 saplings have been planted to enhance the urban landscape.

“NHAI has planted over 2.40 lakh saplings along National Highways across Odisha, transforming highway corridors into greener, cleaner and more sustainable landscapes. In Bhubaneswar and Cuttack alone more than 2,000 saplings have been planted to enhance the urban landscape,” said the NHAI.

The NHAI Regional Office said that these plantation drives were also generating employment opportunities for local communities.

“Beyond creating greener highways, these plantation drives are also generating employment opportunities for local communities, contributing to environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods,” it stated.

“NHAI is building roads, creating livelihoods and nurturing a greener tomorrow,” the NHAI asserted.

Plantation of around 2.40 lakh saplings along the National Highways in Odisha will provide many ecological benefits to the region like improved air quality, reduced soil erosion, and enhanced biodiversity.

The NHAI has been focusing on creating green corridors by undertaking bamboo plantation, dense plantation and vertical landscaping across the country. The vision is to saturate plantations along the National Highways collectively by involving various stakeholders to create a green and sustainable National Highway network.