DME Development Limited (DMEDL), an arm of NHAI, has raised Rs 775 crore through issuance of green bonds in roads and highways sector, an official statement said on Monday. The proceeds from the issue of 'green bonds' has been used for activities such as expenditure on avenue plantation, median plantation, construction of animal underpasses, natural stormwater drainage, streetlight on renewable energy (solar), waste recycling and reuse and rainwater harvesting, the statement said. "DMEDL today successfully raised Rs 775 crore from the first of its kind issue of 'green bonds' in roads and highways sector," the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways said. NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said, "This first of its kind initiative for the roads and highway sector will set a benchmark and encourage participation from a diverse set of investors." N R V V M K Rajendra Kumar, Member (Finance), NHAI, and Chairman, DMEDL, said: "The robust demand for green bonds and successful issuance ...
DME Development aims to raise about Rs 48,000 crore from banks and financial markets through loans and bonds and has successfully raised around Rs 42,000 crore
DME is a special-purpose vehicle created by the NHAI in August 2020 for the construction of the greenfield Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
Under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, the government plans to build 50 new national corridors and connect 550 district centres with national highways
The report claims that NHAI is planning to raise Rs 5,000 crore for the Bharatmala programme