In a bid to increase the green cover along the widened Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH 44), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Forest Department will jointly plant 4.5 lakh additional saplings on both sides of the highway’s stretch between Walajah and Krishnagiri, before the onset of the northeast monsoon.
NHAI officials said the 148-km long stretch between Walajah bridge and Krishnagiri has been maintained by L&T on behalf of NHAI since 2012, when the two-lane stretch was converted into four-lane. Around 40,000 trees were uprooted for the widening work. Since then, around three lakh saplings have been planted along the route. “Our role is to provide space along the highway for planting saplings. Adequate space is being identified for the purpose,” S. Jayakumar, site engineer, NHAI (Vellore), told The Hindu.
