Introduction
The NHAI Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026 winners were announced by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to recognise outstanding plantation and landscaping work along National Highways in India. The awards promote environmentally responsible highway development and encourage organisations to adopt sustainable green practices.
This topic is important for SSC, Railway aspirants under National Current Affairs, Environment and Awards and Honours.
Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026: Important Facts
| Categories | Details |
|---|---|
| Award announced by | National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) |
| Edition | 2026 |
| Main theme | Plantation and landscaping along National Highways |
| Number of categories | Three |
| Total nominations | 86 |
| Awards instituted under | Green Highways Policy, 2015 |
| Awards instituted in | 2025 |
NHAI Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026 Winners
The awards were presented in three categories: Avenue Plantations, Median Plantations, and Plantation in Land Parcels.
1. Avenue Plantations Category
| Position | Winning project | Location or regional office |
|---|---|---|
| First Prize | Six-Laning of Chilakaluripet Bypass on NH-16 | Andhra Pradesh; RO Vijayawada |
| Second Prize | Eight-Lane Vadodara–Kim Expressway, Padra to Vadodara section | RO Gandhinagar |
| Third Prize | Gagariya–Bakhasar section of NH-925 and Satta–Gandhav section of NH-925A | RO Jaipur |
| Consolation Prize | Annual maintenance of the Trichy–Karaikudi section, including Trichy Bypass | RO Madurai |
2. Median Plantations Category
| Position | Winning project | Location or regional office |
|---|---|---|
| First Prize | Four-Laning of Hyderabad–Yadgiri section of NH-163 | RO Hyderabad |
| Second Prize | Eight-Lane Vadodara–Kim Expressway, Sanpa to Padra section | RO Gandhinagar |
| Third Prize | Varanasi Ring Road, Package I, Harahua to Sandaha section of NH-31 | RO Uttar Pradesh East, Varanasi |
3. Plantation in Land Parcels Category
This category included green development at clover leaves, interchanges, toll plazas and service areas.
| Position | Winning project | Location or regional office |
|---|---|---|
| First Prize | Jamtha Clover Leaf and Oxygen Bird Park on NH-44 | RO Nagpur |
| Second Prize | ToT Bundle-7, North-East-II land parcels at Duhai Interchange | RO Delhi |
| Third Prize | Lucknow–Ayodhya Road and Outer Ring Road Junction, Miyawaki plantation in loop areas | RO Uttar Pradesh West, Lucknow |
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Nominations and Selection Process
NHAI received 86 nominations through its online portal. These included:
- 27 nominations for Avenue Plantations
- 36 nominations for Median Plantations
- 23 nominations for Plantation in Land Parcels
The entries were supported by geo-tagged photographs, drone videos, plantation plans and survival-rate data. After the initial screening, 15 nominations – five from each category – were shortlisted for the final evaluation.
The evaluation considered several factors, including:
- Plantation survival rate
- Site-specific plantation planning
- Pit size and preparation
- Quality of planting material
- Protection measures
- Use of native plant species suitable for local conditions
Among these factors, the survival rate of plantations carried the highest weight.
Aim of the Green Highways Excellence Awards
The awards aim to combine highway infrastructure development with environmental sustainability. They encourage NHAI field offices, concessionaires, contractors, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and private organisations to maintain successful plantation projects along National Highways.
The awards were instituted in 2025 under the Green Highways Policy of 2015. They also encourage the replication of effective plantation and landscaping practices across India’s National Highway network.
Why This Current Affair Is Important for Exams
The Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026 are relevant to competitive examinations because questions may be asked about:
- The organisation that announced the awards
- The number of award categories
- The first-prize projects
- The total number of nominations
- The Green Highways Policy
- The highest-weighted selection criterion
- The year in which the awards were instituted
One-Line Revision Notes
- NHAI announced the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026.
- The awards covered three categories.
- The Avenue Plantations first prize went to the Six-Laning of Chilakaluripet Bypass on NH-16.
- The Median Plantations first prize went to the Hyderabad–Yadgiri section of NH-163.
- The Plantation in Land Parcels first prize went to the Jamtha Clover Leaf and Oxygen Bird Park on NH-44.
- NHAI received 86 nominations.
- Plantation survival rate received the highest weight during evaluation.
- The awards were instituted in 2025 under the Green Highways Policy, 2015.
Practice MCQs
1. Which organisation announced the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026?
A. National Green Tribunal
B. National Highways Authority of India
C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
D. Border Roads Organisation
Answer: B. National Highways Authority of India
2. How many categories were included in the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five
Answer: B. Three
3. Which project won the first prize in the Median Plantations category?
A. Varanasi Ring Road
B. Jamtha Clover Leaf
C. Hyderabad–Yadgiri section of NH-163
D. Chilakaluripet Bypass
Answer: C. Hyderabad–Yadgiri section of NH-163
4. How many nominations did NHAI receive for the 2026 awards?
A. 56
B. 76
C. 86
D. 96
Answer: C. 86
5. Which factor carried the highest weight in the selection process?
A. Number of trees planted
B. Project cost
C. Plantation survival rate
D. Length of the highway
Answer: C. Plantation survival rate
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) Who announced the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026?
Ans: The National Highways Authority of India announced the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026.
Q2) How many categories were included in the awards?
Ans: The awards were presented in three categories: Avenue Plantations, Median Plantations, and Plantation in Land Parcels.
Q3) Which project won first prize in the Avenue Plantations category?
Ans: The Six-Laning of Chilakaluripet Bypass on NH-16 in Andhra Pradesh won first prize in the Avenue Plantations category.
Q4) Which project won first prize in the Plantation in Land Parcels category?
Ans: The Jamtha Clover Leaf and Oxygen Bird Park on NH-44, under RO Nagpur, won first prize in this category.
Q5) When were the Green Highways Excellence Awards instituted?
Ans: The awards were instituted in 2025 under the Green Highways Policy of 2015.
Conclusion
The NHAI Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026 Winners highlight India’s effort to make highway development more environmentally sustainable. For SSC and Railway exam preparation, remember the announcing organisation, three categories, first-prize projects, 86 nominations, the 2015 policy and plantation survival rate as the key selection criterion.
For more exam-focused updates, revise this article with daily national current affairs, environment-related news and Awards and Honours questions.