India to get Bee Corridors on National Highways as NHAI shifts from ornamental to ecological plantations, The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop pollinator or ‘Bee Corridors’ along National Highways, marking a shift from ornamental plantations to ecological vegetation.
The corridors will feature continuous linear stretches of bee-friendly vegetation comprising flowering trees and plants designed to ensure the availability of nectar and pollen throughout the year.
The initiative aims to reduce the increasing ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators, which has been adversely impacting pollination services, agricultural and horticultural productivity, and overall ecological balance.
Under the programme, NHAI will align its plantation activities toward creating dedicated pollinator corridors.
The plan includes a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses, while retaining wild elements by allowing flowering weeds to bloom and preserving dead wood and hollow trunks that benefit pollinators.
Plant species will be selected to ensure staggered flowering across seasons, maintaining a near-continuous blooming cycle.
Native species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and Siris will be planted along National Highways.
Corridor development will depend on agro-climatic conditions and local suitability, with projects to be taken up along highway stretches and other vacant NHAI land parcels.
Field offices across the country will identify highway sections where clusters of flowering trees can be planted at intervals of approximately 500 meters to 1 Km, corresponding to the average foraging distance of honeybees and wild bees.
NHAI field offices will also plan and develop at least three pollinator corridors during 2026-27.
The authority plans to plant around 40 lakh trees along National Highways during the same period, with about 60% to be planted under the ‘Bee Corridor’ initiative.
The initiative is expected to enhance ecological outcomes, contribute to pollinator conservation, and strengthen environmentally responsible National Highway development.
