CSIR-IIIM, NHAI launch ‘Lavender Hub Project’ to transform Banihal-Ramban highway

Srinagar, Apr 13: CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have embarked on a pioneering endeavor with the launch of the ‘Lavender Hub Project’ along National Highway NH44. This initiative, aimed at enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the highway and promoting sustainable development, commenced today near the south end of the Banihal-Qazigund Road Tunnel (Navyug Tunnel), Banihal.
Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM, and Ashok Kumar Jain, Advisor (Plantation and Clearances) from the Green Highways Division of NHAI, jointly inaugurated the project by planting lavender plants near the Navyug Tunnel. Dr. Ahmed highlighted the project’s significance in boosting the local economy through lavender plantation, elevating the region’s profile globally. He emphasized that the collaboration between CSIR-IIIM and NHAI will not only develop the Banihal-Ramban stretch as a Lavender Hub but also establish a sustainable model for income generation.
Ashok Kumar Jain echoed Dr Ahmed’s sentiments, stating NHAI’s commitment to sustainable development and highway beautification. He envisaged the project as a model for developing other highway stretches, with active involvement from local communities.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for this landmark project was signed on March 18, 2024, in the presence of the Union Minister of Science & Technology and Vice President of CSIR. With a joint investment of Rs 283.80 lakh, funded equally by CSIR-IIIM and NHAI, the project aims to landscape approximately 200 kanals over the next five years. It seeks to transform the Banihal-Ramban Highway stretch into a Lavender Hub, serving as both an avenue for plantation and a sustainable model for post-plantation operations and agri-entrepreneurship among local populations.
The event saw the presence of several dignitaries from CSIR-IIIM and NHAI, including Ravi Kesar (Retd. IFS), Advisor Plantations, RO Jammu, Dr Dhiraj Vyas, Senior Principal Scientist and Head of the Plant Sciences and Agrotechnology Division, and Rajinder Sharma, Technical Assistant.
The ‘Lavender Hub Project’ signifies a collaborative effort towards environmental conservation, economic empowerment, and community development, heralding a new chapter in sustainable infrastructure development.