NHAI plans ‘Bee Corridors’ along national highways; What it means and how it will work

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Tuesday announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop dedicated ‘Bee Corridors’ along national highways as part of its push towards sustainable infrastructure development.

Under the programme, NHAI will shift from ornamental to ecological plantations by creating continuous linear stretches of bee-friendly vegetation comprising flowering trees and plants.

This will “ensure the availability of nectar and pollen throughout the year,” the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said in a statement.

“The initiative will help reduce the increasing ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators, which is adversely impacting pollination services, agricultural and horticultural productivity, and overall ecological balance,” it added.

As part of the plan, NHAI will align its plantation activities towards the creation of pollinator corridors featuring a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses.

The corridors will retain wild elements by planting nectar- and pollen-rich species, allowing flowering weeds to bloom, and preserving dead wood and hollow trunks that are beneficial to pollinators.

Plant species will be selected to ensure staggered flowering across seasons, maintaining a near-continuous blooming cycle throughout the year, according to an official readout.

Native varieties such as neem, karanj, mahua, palash, bottle brush, jamun and siris will be planted along highway stretches.

Depending on agro-climatic conditions and local suitability, the corridors will be developed along national highways and other vacant NHAI land parcels.

NHAI field offices across the country will identify national 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 have also been asked to plan and develop at least three pollinator corridors during 2026–27.

The highways authority said it plans to plant around 40 lakh trees along national highways in 2026–27, with nearly 60% of them to be covered under the ‘Bee Corridor’ initiative.

“The unique ‘Bee Corridor’ initiative will help enhance ecological outcomes, contribute to pollinator conservation, and further strengthen NHAI’s commitment to environmentally responsible National Highway development,” the government said.