CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS & PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE · Vol. 2021

Impact of construction for the expansion of National Highways on the local environment in India

Dillip Kumar Das

Keywords: Construction, Environmental Impact, National Highways, Pollution, Technology

Abstract

Increased traffic has led to a higher demand for construction and expansion of National Highways (NH) in India. Along with positive transformations, the construction of NHs create environmental ailments in the vicinity of the road construction sites and impacts the local environment. However, the impact of construction or expansion of NHs on the local environment and measures to alleviate the ill effects are undermined in India. Therefore, using the study context of National Highway expansion projects in the Odisha state of India, the study assessed the various environmental impacts of construction and explored strategies to mitigate environmental ailments. Data was collected by using survey research methods. A perception survey among the local communities and stakeholders and a Delphi survey among experts were conducted to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Findings suggested that severe health ailments and air, water, noise pollution and land severance are experienced. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process has significant gaps and does not adequately consider the local environment. The current mitigation measures adopted are marginal and not sufficient to meet the challenges of environmental degradation. Appropriate strategies related to procedural, socio-economic, wildlife-related, land and road alignment and technical aspects would likely assist in mitigating or preventing environmental degradation at the local level because of NH construction or expansion. The identified gaps could strengthen the EIA process, and the implementation of the suggested strategies could alleviate the local environmental challenges because of the impacts of NH construction.