NHAI to develop ‘bee corridors’ along National Highways to support pollinator conservation.
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
New Delhi, February 17, 2026: Reaffirming its commitment to sustainable and environment-friendly infrastructure, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a unique initiative to develop pollinator or ‘Bee Corridors’ along national highways across the country.
Moving away from purely ornamental plantations, NHAI will now focus on ecological plantations by creating continuous linear stretches of bee-friendly vegetation.
NHAI aiming for environmentally friendly stretches for commuters:
These corridors will comprise flowering trees and plants that ensure year-round availability of nectar and pollen, helping mitigate the growing ecological stress on bees and other pollinators.
Pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting agricultural and horticultural productivity.
Their declining population has become a major environmental concern, and NHAI’s initiative aims to address this challenge by integrating biodiversity conservation into highway development.
Under the Bee Corridor initiative, NHAI will plant a diverse mix of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses, preserving natural elements by prioritizing nectar-and pollen-rich species.
Deadwood and hollow tree trunks, which are beneficial habitats for pollinators, will also be incorporated wherever feasible.
The selection of plant species will be done in such a way that flowering occurs in different seasons, ensuring an almost continuous flowering cycle throughout the year.
Native tree species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, bottle brush, Jamun, and Siris will be planted, keeping local agro-climatic conditions in mind.
These pollinator corridors will be developed along national highways and other vacant land parcels owned by NHAI.
NHAI tasked the regional offices to identify places for the plantation:
Regional offices across the country will identify suitable highway stretches where clusters of flowering trees will be planted at intervals of 500 metres to 1 kilometre, aligning with the average foraging distance of honeybees and wild bees.
NHAI regional offices have been directed to plan and develop at least three pollinator corridors during 2026-27.
During the same period, the National Highways Authority of India aims to plant approximately 4 million trees along national highways, with nearly 60 percent of the plantation undertaken under the Bee Corridor initiative.
Officials said the initiative will significantly enhance ecological outcomes, strengthen pollinator conservation efforts, and further reinforce the National Highways Authority of India’s commitment to environmentally responsible and sustainable national highway development.
EOM.
