New Delhi: State-owned National Highways Authoriy of India (NHAI) on Tuesday said it has taken an initiative to develop 'Arogya Van', thematic medicinal tree plantations on vacant land parcels along National Highways.

NHAI, in a statement, said the initiative aims to enrich biodiversity along the National Highways by introducing medicinal tree species that support pollinators, birds and microfauna, thereby strengthening ecosystem resilience.

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In the first phase of developing 'Arogya Van', an action plan has been formulated covering 17 land parcels, spanning over 62.8 hectares, where around 67,462 medicinal trees will be planted along different National Highway projects in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

Around 36 tree species with established medicinal properties, such as Neem, Amla, Imli, Jamun, Lemon, Gular, and Maulsari, etc., have been identified and will be planted at land parcels as per suitability to the respective agro-climatic zone, the statement said.

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NHAI said priority will be given to land parcels near toll plazas, wayside amenities, interchanges, cloverleaf junctions and other prominent stretches, along National Highways to maximise public awareness and outreach.

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