New Delhi, February 1: Cleanliness is a very important aspect of our day to day life. Being clean and keeping our surroundings clean should be our primary work and agenda. Therefore, so far toilet facilities are provided at 192 toll plazas across the country, while the remaining 180 toll plazas will be covered by the end of March 2019.
Notably, the National Highways Authority of India has provided toilet facilities at 192 toll plazas across the country, while the remaining 180 toll plazas will be covered by the end of March 2019 under Swachh Bharat Mission.
Under the Government of India’s flagship programmes Swachh Bharat Mission, NHAI is providing separate ladies and gents toilets on both upside and downside of each of its 372 toll plazas, and also placing litter bins and hoardings carrying the Swachhta message along with message discouraging littering at these sites.
NHAI has observed both the current Swachhta Pakhwada from 16th-31st January as well as the earlier one from 16-31st July 2017 and proposed to achieve the target of providing toilet facilities at every toll plaza during the final year of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is monitoring the progress in this regard.
The following activities have been undertaken under the current Swachhta Pakhwada between 16th -31st January 2018 at all the toll plazas along National Highways:
i.) Making toll plazas free of open defaecation
ii.) Provision of temporary toilets at toll plazas during the Pakhwada
iii.) Swachhta Pakhwada Awareness Workshops
iv.) Making all road-side Dhabas litter free with well-maintained hygiene
v.) Special cleanliness drive/Mega road cleaning event/Shramdan
vi.) Generation of less waste during road building
vii.) Issuing circular to the companies to maintain adequate sanitation facilities during the road and bridge construction.
viii.) Litter free construction sites
ix.) Display of Swachhta message through banners, posters and hoardings.
x.) Tree plantation and ensuring maintenance and growth
xi.) Awards for functionaries of SBM
xii.) Outdated posters along highways to be removed as these add to clutter and also distract road users.