Arogya Van, bee corridors and community plantations drive green highway initiative

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, OCTOBER 12, 2026

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Regional Office Odisha, has planted 5.20 lakh saplings across the state in four months under a comprehensive green initiative aimed at enhancing biodiversity, conserving medicinal flora and promoting ecological sustainability along national highway corridors.

The plantation drive integrates several initiatives, including the Arogya Van programme, bee corridor plantations, median greening and community-based afforestation, with a focus on blending infrastructure development with environmental conservation.

A major highlight of the campaign is the Arogya Van initiative, under which 2,500 medicinal plants have been planted at Kunduli in Koraput district along the Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor (NH-130CD). The plantation comprises indigenous medicinal species such as Bahada, Neem, Harida and Amla, helping preserve traditional medicinal flora and the region's natural heritage.

The programme envisages the development of dedicated medicinal tree plantations on suitable vacant land along national highways. Besides expanding green cover, the initiative is expected to create habitats and provide resources for pollinators, birds and other small wildlife, while raising awareness about India's traditional medicinal knowledge and the ecological value of native plant species.

Under the Bee Corridor Plantation initiative, NHAI has planted 39,337 saplings of species such as Neem, Spathodea, Arjun, Patoli, Kadamba, Tabebuia rosea and Radhachuda. The initiative aims to support pollinators, improve roadside vegetation and strengthen biodiversity along highway stretches.

Another 87,338 plants have been planted along highway medians to enhance the visual appeal and ecological character of the road network. Flowering species, including Bougainvillea, Tecoma, Calliandra and Caesalpinia, have been incorporated into the plantations to add colour to highway landscapes while promoting greener infrastructure.

The drive also includes the planting of 6,000 bamboo saplings and 7,097 plants under the Community Plantation initiative, extending the focus to ecological restoration and public participation in environmental conservation.

NHAI has also taken its plantation activities to schools, colleges and other community spaces to encourage wider participation in greening efforts. The initiative seeks to foster environmental awareness and a sense of collective responsibility for protecting nature beyond highway corridors.

By combining medicinal plantations, pollinator-friendly corridors, flowering vegetation and community-led greening, the NHAI's Odisha regional office is working towards creating greener highway landscapes while supporting biodiversity conservation.

The initiative highlights the growing emphasis on integrating environmental considerations into infrastructure development, with sustained plantation activities and community engagement expected to contribute to a greener and more ecologically resilient Odisha.