NHAI announces first-of-its-kind ‘Bee Corridors’ along National Highways to promote pollinator conservation

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 significant shift from ornamental roadside plantation towards ecological infrastructure development.

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According to an official announcement, the initiative aims to establish continuous linear stretches of bee-friendly vegetation comprising flowering trees and plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout the year. The move is intended to address increasing ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators, which has implications for agricultural productivity, horticulture, and overall ecological balance.

Under the initiative, NHAI will align plantation activities to create dedicated corridors featuring a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. The plan emphasizes retaining wild ecological elements by including nectar- and pollen-rich species, allowing flowering weeds to bloom, and preserving dead wood and hollow trunks that support pollinator habitats. The selection of plant species will ensure staggered flowering cycles across seasons to maintain near-continuous blooming.

Native species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun and Siris will be planted along highway stretches based on agro-climatic suitability and local conditions. NHAI field offices across the country will identify suitable stretches where clusters of flowering trees can be planted at intervals of around 500 metres to 1 kilometre, corresponding to the average foraging range of honeybees and wild bees.

As part of the rollout, field offices are expected to plan and develop at least three pollinator corridors during 2026–27. NHAI also plans to plant around 40 lakh trees along national highways during the year, with nearly 60 percent of the plantation targeted under the Bee Corridor initiative.

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