New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop dedicated pollinator or ‘Bee Corridors’ along National Highways, marking a shift from ornamental roadside plantations to ecologically focused green infrastructure.
According to an official statement issued on Monday, the proposed Bee Corridors will comprise continuous linear stretches of bee-friendly vegetation, including flowering trees and plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout the year. The initiative aims to address the growing ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators, which has had adverse effects on pollination services, agricultural and horticultural productivity, and overall ecological balance.
Under the programme, NHAI will align its plantation activities to create corridors featuring a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. The design will retain wild elements by incorporating nectar- and pollen-rich species, allowing flowering weeds to bloom, and preserving dead wood and hollow trunks that support pollinator habitats.
To ensure near-continuous flowering across seasons, plant species will be selected for staggered blooming cycles. Native species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun and Siris will be planted along suitable highway stretches.
The corridors will be developed depending on agro-climatic conditions and local suitability, including along National Highway sections and other vacant NHAI land parcels. Field offices across the country have been directed to identify stretches where clusters of flowering trees can be planted at intervals of 500 metres to one kilometre, aligning with the average foraging distance of honeybees and wild bees.
NHAI has also instructed its field units to plan and develop at least three pollinator corridors during 2026–27. The authority aims to plant around 40 lakh trees along National Highways in the coming financial year, with approximately 60 per cent of the plantation target to be implemented under the Bee Corridor initiative.
Officials said the programme is expected to enhance ecological outcomes, strengthen pollinator conservation and reinforce NHAI’s commitment to environmentally responsible highway development.
