1. Introduction to the Collaboration

- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has entered into collaboration with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

- This association aims at developing and reporting a “Green Cover Index” for the vast network of National Highways in India.

2. Objectives and Aims of the Collaboration

- The primary objective of this initiative is to determine the Green Cover Index region-wise for National Highways.

- The evaluation process entails recording the initial data, succeeded by yearly cycles, focusing primarily on predicting growth patterns.

3. Green Highways Policy and its Assessment

- The Green Highways Policy, initiated in 2015, lays emphasis on the development of green corridors along national highways.

- The supervision of the Green Highways Policy, earlier based on field visits, will now be performed using remote sensing technology.

4. Advantages of the Innovative Approach

- This innovative collaboration is projected to provide a dependable, time-efficient, and cost-effective solution to monitor the green cover.

- The approach permits comprehensive macro-level analysis of the green landscape alongside highways, capturing data without requiring exhaustive field trips.

5. Key Points: Republic Day 2024 and MoU Signing

- Republic Day 2024 is set to be graced by Emmanuel Macron, President of France, as the guest of honour.

- It's celebrated with various events depicting India's patriotic fervour and cultural diversity.

- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NHAI and NRSC under ISRO for a period of three years.

- The collaborative technology used helps in monitoring green cover on National Highways.

- This initiative aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the status and growth pattern of green cover along national highways.