NHAI To Develop ‘Bee Corridors’ Along National Highways

On 17th February 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to create pollinator or “Bee Corridors” along national highways to support pollinator conservation and ecological sustainability.

Key Points

Pollinator Conservation Initiative: NHAI will develop dedicated “Bee Corridors” along highways to support honeybees and other pollinators critical for agriculture and ecological balance.
Shift to Ecological Plantations: The programme replaces ornamental roadside planting with ecological vegetation featuring flowering trees and plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout the year.
Use of Native Species: Selected species include neem, karanj, mahua, palash, bottle brush, jamun and siris, along with shrubs, herbs and grasses suited to local ecosystems.
Year-Round Flowering Cycle: Plantation design will ensure staggered blooming across seasons to maintain continuous nectar and pollen availability for pollinators.
Habitat Support Measures: The plan includes allowing flowering weeds to grow and retaining natural elements such as dead wood and hollow trunks to create supportive habitats.
Strategic Corridor Planning: Clusters of flowering plants will be developed at intervals of 500 metres to 1 kilometre along highways, matching the average foraging range of bees.
Implementation Target: At least three pollinator corridors will be developed during 2026–27, with around 40 lakh trees to be planted, nearly 60% under the Bee Corridor initiative.