NHAI announces India’s first ‘Bee Corridors’ along National Highways to boost pollinator conservation

In a landmark step toward environmentally sustainable infrastructure, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced plans to develop the country’s first dedicated ‘Bee Corridors’ along National Highways. The initiative aims to transform highway-side plantations from ornamental landscaping to ecologically meaningful green stretches that actively support pollinators.

The proposed Bee Corridors will consist of continuous linear stretches of bee-friendly vegetation, including flowering trees and plants that ensure year-round availability of nectar and pollen. By creating such corridors, NHAI seeks to address the growing ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators, whose decline has been affecting pollination services, agricultural and horticultural productivity, and overall ecological balance.

From Decorative to Ecological Plantations

Under this initiative, NHAI will realign its plantation strategy to prioritise pollinator-friendly species. The corridors will feature a carefully curated mix of trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. The design will retain natural elements by incorporating nectar- and pollen-rich plant species, allowing flowering weeds to bloom, and preserving dead wood and hollow trunks that provide habitats for pollinators.

Plant species will be selected to ensure staggered flowering patterns across seasons, creating a near-continuous blooming cycle throughout the year. Native species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun and Siris will be planted along National Highways to promote biodiversity and long-term ecological resilience.

Strategic Implementation Across the Country

The Bee Corridors will be developed along suitable stretches of National Highways and other vacant NHAI land parcels, depending on agro-climatic conditions and local feasibility. NHAI field offices nationwide will identify highway sections where clusters of flowering trees can be planted at intervals of approximately 500 metres to 1 kilometre. This spacing aligns with the average foraging distance of honeybees and wild bees, ensuring effective pollinator movement and habitat connectivity.

As part of the rollout plan for 2026–27, NHAI field offices will develop at least three dedicated pollinator corridors. During the same period, NHAI plans to plant around 40 lakh trees along National Highways, with nearly 60 percent of them to be planted under the Bee Corridor initiative.

Strengthening Sustainable Highway Development

The Bee Corridor initiative marks a significant evolution in India’s highway development strategy by integrating biodiversity conservation into infrastructure expansion. By promoting pollinator habitats along road networks, NHAI aims to generate tangible ecological benefits while reinforcing its commitment to environmentally responsible growth.

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With highways spanning diverse agro-climatic zones, the initiative offers a unique opportunity to create interconnected ecological pathways that support pollinators at scale, thereby contributing to both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.