Srinagar sector of NH-44 needs intensified plantation
Srinagar, Mar 16: Green cover along major national highways in Jammu and Kashmir is gradually expanding, with a satellite-based assessment placing the Union Territory’s cumulative Green Cover Index (GCI) at 32.11.
This has been revealed by the report titled “National Highways – Green Cover Index: Remote Sensing-Based Assessment and Monitoring of Green Cover along National Highways, Annual Report 2025–26”.
The report, a copy of which is with the Rising Kashmir, was prepared using high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced remote sensing techniques and evaluates vegetation density and plantation cover along national highways to assess the effectiveness of roadside greening initiatives undertaken across the country.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the study assessed five Unified Plantation Corridor (UPC) projects during the current monitoring cycle. These projects are largely located along stretches of National Highway 44, the region’s principal arterial road connecting Srinagar with Udhampur and Jammu, and serving as the backbone of road connectivity in the Union Territory.
“Cumulative GCI of the entire State having five projects is 32.11, considering avenue plantations,” the report states, noting that the figure has been calculated based on individual GCI values recorded for each project corridor.
The Green Cover Index is a scientific indicator used to estimate the extent of vegetation and tree cover along highway corridors. Derived from satellite imagery, the index analyses vegetation patterns on both sides of highways, enabling authorities to evaluate plantation drives and identify areas where green cover remains sparse. The findings reveal significant variation in vegetation density across different stretches of the highway.
One segment under the Regional Office Jammu in the Udhampur sector recorded an avenue GCI of 73.05, reflecting substantial vegetation cover along that section. Another stretch in the same region reported an avenue GCI of 76.54, among the highest values recorded in the assessment. These higher scores suggest that plantation efforts along certain sections of NH-44 have yielded encouraging results, contributing to improved greenery along the corridor.
However, the report notes that some stretches along the Srinagar sector of NH-44 recorded comparatively lower GCI values, indicating sparse vegetation in those areas. The findings highlight the need for intensified plantation drives, better maintenance of existing plantations and stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure balanced green cover along the entire highway corridor.
The study relied on multi-source satellite data, including imagery from Sentinel-2A MSI (Level-2A) and RS-2A sensors, captured between October and December 2024. These images were analysed to determine vegetation density and calculate green cover on both sides of the highway, referred to in the report as Left-Hand Side (LHS) and Right-Hand Side (RHS) GCI values.
By examining these parameters, the report provides a detailed picture of vegetation distribution along different highway stretches, helping planners and highway authorities prioritise areas requiring additional plantation.
Experts involved in the monitoring exercise said the use of satellite-based remote sensing has significantly enhanced the accuracy and efficiency of assessing roadside greenery.
They noted that the Green Cover Index serves as an important planning tool, enabling authorities to track the progress of plantation programmes, evaluate environmental impact and ensure that highway development is aligned with ecological sustainability.
The report also includes satellite visualisations and mapping data illustrating the geographical distribution of the five UPC projects across Jammu and Kashmir, along with comparative bar charts depicting vegetation levels along the left and right sides of the highway corridors.
The National Highways Green Cover Index initiative forms part of a broader national effort to promote environmentally sustainable highway development, encourage large-scale avenue plantations and strengthen ecological resilience along major transport corridors.
Officials said periodic satellite-based monitoring will help ensure that plantation targets under national highway greening programmes are achieved and maintained over time, particularly in environmentally sensitive regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, where highways traverse fragile mountain ecosystems.
They added that continuous monitoring and targeted plantation initiatives could play a crucial role in enhancing roadside greenery, improving air quality and stabilising soil along highway corridors in the years ahead.
