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NHAI Launches Bee Corridors Along Highways, Sets 2026–27 Rollout Targets

The program shifts highway planting to native, staggered-bloom species to sustain pollinators year-round.

Overview

  • NHAI will convert highway verges into continuous pollinator habitats to reduce ecological stress that is harming pollination services and agricultural and horticultural productivity.
  • Field offices will identify suitable highway stretches and vacant NHAI land based on local agro-climatic conditions, with detailed site lists yet to be released.
  • For 2026–27, the plan targets at least three pollinator corridors and about 40 lakh trees, with roughly 60% of plantings under the Bee Corridor initiative.
  • Corridors will use native trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses with staggered flowering, including Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun and Siris.
  • Clusters of flowering trees will be spaced about 500 metres to 1 km to align with typical bee foraging distances, with guidance to retain flowering weeds and beneficial dead wood.