NEW DELHI: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday expressed concern over rising pollution levels in Delhi, saying he no longer feels like visiting the national capital because of its harmful impact on people’s health and life expectancy.Speaking at the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’ tree plantation drive on the Faridabad-Noida International Airport Road in Gautam Buddha Nagar, he said, “I stay in Delhi for two or three days only, and when I arrive, I start thinking about when I will leave. I book my return tickets first. You should take this issue seriously.”“The pollution in Delhi has led to a decrease in the life expectancy of common people,” added Gadkari, who is also an MP from Nagpur. He further continued that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to help reduce pollution caused by vehicle emissions from fossil fuels.He also outlined several key steps being taken to combat pollution and promote environmental sustainability, according to news agency PTI.He said the government is actively promoting alternative fuels like ethanol and carrying out large-scale plantation drives to reduce pollution. Gadkari added that around 80 lakh tonnes of waste have been used in road construction as part of the government’s efforts to reuse materials and protect the environment.“We are also prioritising water conservation by adopting measures like rainwater harvesting on our highways,” the road transport and highways minister added.An official statement from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said the agency is working to create green corridors through initiatives like bamboo plantations, dense tree planting, and vertical landscaping. In 2024-25, NHAI planted nearly 67 lakh trees, surpassing its target of 60 lakh. The aim is to saturate plantations along National Highways by involving multiple stakeholders, ultimately building a greener and more sustainable highway network.