Uttar Pradesh will plant more than 20 million saplings along roads and expressways as part of the state's Podhropan Mahayagya-2026 plantation drive, according to the Forest Department. The plantation campaign will cover 11,325 hectares across 2,336 roadside locations, with multiple government departments participating.

The Forest Department, serving as the nodal agency, will coordinate the drive with the Public Works Department, Housing Development, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and other departments. The initiative is intended to expand roadside green cover and increase shade along major transport corridors.

A key component of the programme is the plantation of 550,000 saplings along both sides of the 594-km Ganga Expressway. The plantations will cover around 500 hectares. At every kilometre along the expressway, a Harishankari cluster comprising Peepal, Banyan, and Pakad trees will be planted.

Other species identified for plantation include Neem, Gular, Mahua, Mango, Arjun, Chilbil, Shisham, Jamun, Mahogany, Gulmohar, Jacaranda, Kachnar, and Amaltas. The state government said shade-giving and fruit-bearing trees have been prioritised for roadside plantations.

According to the Forest Department, measures have also been planned to improve the survival rate of the saplings. These include wire fencing for protection and drip irrigation along the Ganga Expressway plantations.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Publicity & Outreach) Aditi Sharma said the plantation campaign under Mission Chhaya would cover roads across the state, including expressways, with more than 20 million saplings to be planted in coordination with multiple departments.

Apart from the Ganga Expressway, plantations will be carried out along the Delhi–Lucknow route, Purvanchal Expressway, Gorakhpur Link Expressway, Noida–Greater Noida Expressway in Gautam Buddh Nagar and the Greenfield Expressway between Shekhpur and Sathipur on the right carriageway.

Different departments have been assigned specific responsibilities for the campaign. The Rural Development Department will undertake plantations on Gram Sabha land and rural roads, while the Panchayati Raj Department will cover Panchayat roads. The Urban Development Department will oversee roadside plantations in urban areas, and the Public Works Department will carry out plantations along highways, district roads, approach roads and rural roads using tree guards where required.

The plantation drive follows directions issued by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and forms part of the state's annual afforestation programme aimed at increasing tree cover along public roads and transport corridors.