No trees, no completion certificate: NHAI mandates 80% plantation and 90% sapling survival along National Highways

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued revised guidelines to ensure that plantation and landscaping along the medians and avenues of National Highway projects are treated as an integral part of project development and completion.

The guidelines make plantation a key contractual requirement and link compliance with the issuance of the Provisional Certificate of Completion (PCC) and Provisional Commercial Operation Date (PCOD).

NHAI sets 80% plantation requirement for highway projects

Under the new guidelines, plantation must be carried out in accordance with the relevant contract or concession agreement and applicable norms under the Green Highways Policy, 2015, IRC:SP:21-2009 and other guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and NHAI.


For a project to qualify for provisional completion certification, plantation must cover at least 80% of the available Right of Way (ROW) identified for plantation.

The planted saplings must also record a minimum survival rate of 90% at the time of inspection by officials.

Plantation shortfall could affect project payments

NHAI has stated that any plantation shortfall beyond the prescribed 80% threshold must be clearly recorded, along with a specific timeline for completing the remaining work.

Financial withholdings provided for under the applicable contract or concession agreement will be enforced until the outstanding plantation work is completed and the required target is achieved.

The move is aimed at ensuring that plantation obligations are not overlooked while projects are being certified as complete.

90% sapling survival rate mandatory during O&M period

The new guidelines also strengthen plantation maintenance requirements during the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) period of National Highway projects.

For Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Annuity projects, the release of O&M or annuity payments will be linked to maintaining a minimum 90% survival rate.

In BOT-Toll projects, compliance with plantation maintenance requirements will also be assessed against the 90% survival benchmark.

NHAI mandates replacement of dead plants

The guidelines require contractors to replace plants that die during the maintenance period to maintain the required plantation density along highway corridors.

Where plant mortality occurs, replacements must be of a similar age and growth stage to ensure uniformity and continuity of the plantation.

Before processing O&M or annuity payments, or certifying maintenance compliance, NHAI will seek technical assistance from its engaged environment and plantation experts. These experts will verify field-level compliance and assess whether the prescribed plant survival standards are being met.

Why NHAI revised plantation guidelines

NHAI had previously observed that plantation along highway medians and avenues, despite being a contractual obligation, was often not given adequate importance when PCC or PCOD was issued for projects.

The revised guidelines seek to address this gap by making plantation coverage and sapling survival measurable conditions for project completion and maintenance compliance.

The move is also aimed at strengthening the integration of environmental sustainability and plantation management into the development and long-term maintenance of National Highway projects.


Inputs from agencies