Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved the SOP for the implementation of the Chief Minister’s Green Ring Road Development Plan, aimed at promoting climate-resilient and sustainable infrastructure, well-organized urban transport, and an efficient road network in the state’s municipal corporations.

The state government has allocated a budget of Rs. 200 crore for the development of such Green Ring Roads by urban local bodies in city areas.

The primary objective of this plan is to provide rapid connectivity between different parts of a city without entering the city center and to divert traffic away from central urban areas by developing ring roads around the city.

The plan also addresses the increasing traffic burden in urban areas, incorporating modern and smart technologies for traffic diversion, control, and management.

An advisory committee of experts, well-versed and experienced in the field, was constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to prepare the SOP for the Green Ring Road Development Plan.

Based on the recommendations of this expert committee, the SOP emphasizes using advanced green-clean construction technologies and materials for ring road development. The plan also focuses on enhancing the aesthetic appeal of cities, promoting environmental sustainability, and creating robust infrastructure with minimal maintenance.

The SOP covers various aspects, including the sustainable integration of carriageways, medians and shoulders, drainage and rainwater management, road utilities, tree plantation, traffic management, and road safety features for the Green Ring Roads.

For civic bodies implementing the Green Ring Road, the SOP mandates prioritizing 25% recycled material in total construction materials to reduce dependency on new resources and promote a circular economy.

Additionally, urban local bodies have been advised to maximize the use of renewable energy in total energy consumption for these projects.

Considering the complexity and scale of Green Ring Road projects, their implementation must follow the state government’s guidelines and the established SOP. Technical and environmental reviews of the DPR will also be conducted. DeshGujarat