NHAI to develop 'bee corridors' to reduce ecological stress

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Tuesday said that it will develop bee corridors along national highways in the country to reduce the increasing ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators.

At least three such corridors are expected to come up within the next financial year, starting April 1, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said in a statement.

The corridors will be developed along national highway stretches and other vacant NHAI land parcels, depending upon agro-climatic conditions and local suitability.

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 will also plan and develop at least three pollinator corridors during 2026-27. NHAI plans to plant around 40 lakh trees along national highways during the year 2026-27, around 60 per cent of which will be planted under the 'Bee Corridor' initiative, the statement said.

The bee corridors will have a continuous linear stretch of bee-friendly vegetation comprising flowering trees and plants that will ensure the availability of nectar and pollen throughout the year, the ministry said.

The 'Bee Corridor' initiative will help enhance ecological outcomes, contribute to pollinator conservation, and further strengthen NHAI's commitment to environmentally responsible National Highway development.