Nagpur: : Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, emphasized the importance of ecosystems and environmental sustainability during the inauguration of the Oxygen Bird Park on the Nagpur-Hyderabad National Highway 44 at Jamtha, here, on Saturday.
Speaking at the event, Gadkari highlighted how the park would educate citizens about the environment and play a key role in carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen production.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by key officials, including Anurag Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Santosh Kumar Yadav, Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and Ramtek MP Shyam Kumar Barve.
Gadkari explained that the park features a lake currently home to ducks and other bird species, with plans for more migratory birds to visit as fruit trees are planted. The minister outlined various environmental conservation initiatives undertaken by NHAI alongside road construction, such as the installation of eco-friendly bamboo crash barriers along an 80 km stretch of the Wani-Warora Road, the use of glass fiber instead of steel in flyover construction, the utilization of municipal waste in road building, and the creation of ponds for water conservation in districts like Akola, Buldhana, and Washim.
As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” tree-planting initiative, Gadkari planted a Banyan tree sapling at the park and urged citizens to contribute to the campaign by planting more trees. Since 2015, under the Green Highways Policy, NHAI has planted nearly 40 million trees across the country and successfully transplanted around 700,000 trees that obstructed road construction projects.
Gadkari suggested that NHAI should use funds generated from carbon credits and carbon footprints for building parks like the Oxygen Bird Park. He also recommended that NHAI establish a nursery within the park to supply trees required for future highway projects.
Anurag Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, noted that since December 17, nearly 100,000 saplings have been planted under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative. He also emphasized NHAI’s focus on environmentally friendly road construction by utilizing municipal waste.
Ramtek MP Shyam Kumar Barve spoke about the ongoing construction of four-lane and six-lane highways, which are also being linked to tourist destinations.
Before the event, Gadkari inaugurated the food court within the park and toured the bird park with officials. The event also featured the felicitation of the park’s architect, Habib Khan, and the project contractor. The program concluded with a vote of thanks from R.P. Singh, Regional Officer of NHAI Nagpur. Several dignitaries, including MLAs Techchand Savarkar, Ashish Jaiswal, Sudhakar Kumbhare, and local citizens, were also in attendance.
About the Oxygen Bird Park:
The Oxygen Bird Park (Amrit Mahotsav Park) is an eco-friendly initiative developed by NHAI near Jamtha on National Highway 44, covering an area of 8.23 hectares, including 2.5 hectares reserved for social forestry. The park has been designed to provide a natural habitat for birds while offering a tranquil environment for local residents and tourists. The project aims to combine environmental sustainability with recreational facilities and was approved in March 2023 with a budget of ₹14.31 crore.
A key feature of the park is its focus on sustainability, with fast-growing, oxygen-producing trees planted to combat air pollution and promote a healthy environment. The Nagpur Social Forestry Department played a significant role in the project’s completion and maintenance. The park also includes a food court and 30 water recharge pits for water conservation.
