News: The National Highways Authority of India released the first Annual Report on the National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) 2025–26.
About National Highways Green Cover Index (NH-GCI) 2025–26
- It is a scientific and quantitative index that measures the proportion of green cover along the Way of National Highways.
- Released by: The report has been released by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
- Prepared by: It has been prepared in coordination with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- Aim: The initiative aims to provide a scientific and quantitative assessment of green cover along the National Highways by using advanced space-based technologies.
- Key features
- Technology-based assessment: The index uses high-resolution satellite sensors to detect chlorophyll content and measure vegetation on the left and right sides of highways.
- Measurement method: NH-GCI is expressed as a percentage that shows the share of land covered by green canopy within each one-kilometre segment of the Right of Way.
- Coverage and monitoring: In the first cycle, around 30,000 km of National Highways across 24 states were assessed for the period July–December 2024.
- Data and public access: The results are published on NRSC’s Bhuvan web GIS portal, which provides interactive maps and standardized reports.
