<p> The government is working on developing electric highways powered by solar energy, that will facilitate the charging of heavy-duty trucks and buses, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.</p>.<p>Addressing an event organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC), Gadkari reiterated that the government wants to develop India's public transport system on electricity.</p>.<p>"The government is strongly encouraging solar and wind energy-based charging mechanisms for electric mobility.</p>.<p>"We are also working on developing electric highways, which will be powered by solar energy and this will facilitate charging of heavy-duty trucks and buses while running," he said.</p>.<p>An electric highway generally refers to a road which supplies power to vehicles travelling on it, including through overhead power lines.</p>.<p>Gadkari said that the government is also encouraging toll plazas to be powered by solar energy.</p>.<p>The minister said the road ministry has conducted route optimisation exercises across major corridors and has designed a newer alignment.</p>.<p>Emphasising that a well-developed infrastructure enhances economic activities, creates new businesses and promotes job creation, Gadkari said, "We are constructing 26 greenfield expressways."</p>.<p>With the launch of PM Gati Shakti Master Plan, he said projects will get faster clearance and it would cut down logistic costs.</p>.<p>Stating that both India and the US are natural partners, the minister invited the US private investors to invest in India's logistics, ropeways and cable car sectors.</p>.<p>He informed that around 3 crore trees would be planted along the national highways and the government is adopting tree plantation practices while constructing and expansion of highways.</p>.<p>"And till now we have successfully transplanted 27,000 trees in national highways projects," he said</p>.<p>According to Gadkari, the government is formulating a new policy called 'Tree Bank' for tree cutting and tree plantation.</p>.<p>As per policy, authorities such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will have to maintain a tree bank account for planting trees during the project development.</p>
<p> The government is working on developing electric highways powered by solar energy, that will facilitate the charging of heavy-duty trucks and buses, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.</p>.<p>Addressing an event organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC), Gadkari reiterated that the government wants to develop India's public transport system on electricity.</p>.<p>"The government is strongly encouraging solar and wind energy-based charging mechanisms for electric mobility.</p>.<p>"We are also working on developing electric highways, which will be powered by solar energy and this will facilitate charging of heavy-duty trucks and buses while running," he said.</p>.<p>An electric highway generally refers to a road which supplies power to vehicles travelling on it, including through overhead power lines.</p>.<p>Gadkari said that the government is also encouraging toll plazas to be powered by solar energy.</p>.<p>The minister said the road ministry has conducted route optimisation exercises across major corridors and has designed a newer alignment.</p>.<p>Emphasising that a well-developed infrastructure enhances economic activities, creates new businesses and promotes job creation, Gadkari said, "We are constructing 26 greenfield expressways."</p>.<p>With the launch of PM Gati Shakti Master Plan, he said projects will get faster clearance and it would cut down logistic costs.</p>.<p>Stating that both India and the US are natural partners, the minister invited the US private investors to invest in India's logistics, ropeways and cable car sectors.</p>.<p>He informed that around 3 crore trees would be planted along the national highways and the government is adopting tree plantation practices while constructing and expansion of highways.</p>.<p>"And till now we have successfully transplanted 27,000 trees in national highways projects," he said</p>.<p>According to Gadkari, the government is formulating a new policy called 'Tree Bank' for tree cutting and tree plantation.</p>.<p>As per policy, authorities such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will have to maintain a tree bank account for planting trees during the project development.</p>