NHAI to develop ‘Arogya Van’, thematic medicinal tree plantations along highways

New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said it has taken the initiative to develop ‘Arogya Van’, the thematic medicinal tree plantations on vacant land parcels along the National Highways.

"The initiative aims to enrich biodiversity along the National Highways by introducing medicinal tree species that support pollinators, birds and microfauna, thereby strengthening ecosystem resilience," the NHAI said in a statement on Wednesday.

In the first phase of developing ‘Arogya Van’, an action plan has been formulated covering 17 land parcels spanning over 62.8 hectares, where around 67,462 medicinal trees will be planted along different National Highway projects in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

Also, around 36 tree species with established medicinal properties such as Neem, Amla, Imli, Jamun, Lemon, Gular, Maulsari etc. have been identified and will be planted at land parcels as per suitability to the respective agro-climatic zones.

Priority will be given to land parcels near toll plazas, wayside amenities, interchanges, cloverleaf junctions and other prominent stretches along National Highways, the statement said.

Traditionally, plantation activities along National Highways have been undertaken using a mix of native and avenue tree species aimed at greening and ecological stabilization.

NHAI has identified approximately 188 hectares of vacant land for plantations during the forthcoming monsoon season to ensure higher survival rates and long-term sustainability.

The ‘Arogya Van’ initiative reinforces NHAI’s commitment towards developing environmentally sustainable infrastructure, the statement said.