**Executive Summary**
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a "Bee Corridor" initiative to develop pollinator corridors along National Highways, marking a shift towards ecological plantations. This initiative aims to reduce ecological stress on pollinators and enhance ecological balance. NHAI field offices will plan and develop at least three pollinator corridors during 2026-27.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Bee Corridor Initiative:**
* Develops pollinator or bee corridors along National Highways with bee-friendly vegetation.
* Ensures a continuous linear stretch of flowering trees and plants for year-round nectar and pollen availability.
* Helps reduce ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators.
* **Plantation Strategy:**
* Includes a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses with nectar- and pollen-rich species.
* Allows flowering weeds to bloom and retains dead wood and hollow trunks.
* Ensures staggered flowering across seasons for a near-continuous blooming cycle.
* Uses native species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and Siris.
* **Implementation:**
* Corridors will be developed based on agro-climatic conditions and local suitability on NHAI land.
* Clusters of flowering trees will be planted at intervals of 500 meters to 1 km.
* NHAI plans to plant around 40 lakh trees during 2026-27, with around 60% under the 'Bee Corridor' initiative.
* **Timeline:**
* NHAI field offices will plan and develop at least three pollinator corridors during 2026–27.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)**
* **Impact:** NHAI's commitment to environmentally responsible development will be strengthened.
* **Action Required:** NHAI field offices must identify suitable National Highway sections for planting clusters of flowering trees and plan the development of at least three pollinator corridors for implementation in 2026-27.
**Stakeholder: Honeybees and Other Pollinators**
* **Impact:** Ecological stress will be reduced, supporting pollinator conservation.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required. This group benefits from the activities of NHAI.
**Stakeholder: Agricultural and Horticultural Sectors**
* **Impact:** Agricultural and horticultural productivity is expected to improve through enhanced pollination services.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required. This group benefits from the activities of NHAI.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The primary agency responsible for implementing the 'Bee Corridor' initiative.
Bee Corridor: A linear stretch of bee-friendly vegetation along National Highways to support pollinator conservation.
National Highways: The location where the 'Bee Corridor' initiative will be implemented.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: The government ministry overseeing the NHAI and the 'Bee Corridor' project.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NHAI to Develop First of its Kind ‘BeeCorridors’
Along the National Highways
Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 3:10PM by PIB Delhi
Reiterating its commitment to sustainable infrastructure development, National Highways Authority of
India (NHAI) has announced a first-of-its-kind initiative to develop pollinator or bee corridors along
National Highways. Marking a shift from ornamental to ecological plantations, the ‘Bee Corridor’ 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. Plantations along National Highways
present a unique opportunity to support pollinator conservation. The initiative will help reduce the
increasing ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators, which is adversely impacting
pollination services, agricultural and horticultural productivity, and overall ecological balance.
NHAI will align its plantation activities towards the creation of dedicated pollinator or ‘Bee Corridors’.
The unique initiative will include a mix of trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses that will retain wild elements
by planting nectar- and pollen-rich species, allowing flowering weeds to bloom, along with dead wood
and hollow trunks that are beneficial to pollinators. Selection of plant species will ensure staggered
flowering across different seasons to maintain a near-continuous blooming cycle throughout the year.
Native species of trees and plants, including Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun, and
Siris, will be planted along National Highways.
Depending upon agro-climatic conditions and local suitability, such corridors will be developed along
National Highway stretches and other vacant NHAI land parcels. 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
percent of which will be planted under the ‘Bee Corridor’ initiative.
The unique ‘Bee Corridor’ initiative will help enhance ecological outcomes, contribute to pollinator
conservation, and further strengthen NHAI’s commitment to environmentally responsible National
Highway development.
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