Bhubaneswar: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is introducing the Bee Corridor project as a nationwide initiative, with Odisha being one of the first states to implement its regional phase.
Originally conceptualized as a pan-India strategy by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI is rolling out these dedicated pollinator corridors across the country to shift from purely decorative roadside greenery to ecologically functional landscapes.
In Odisha, the regional office is launching the state’s first dedicated corridor during the monsoon season. This specific project focuses on national highway stretches across the Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, and Ganjam districts, particularly along NH-53, NH-55, and NH-16.
By introducing nearly 20,000 native flowering plants such as Neem, Karanj, Arjun, Kadamba, Jamun, Tamarind, and Kanchan, the initiative aims to build a continuous green belt that provides year-round nectar and pollen. The plantation clusters are strategically spaced at intervals of 500 meters to 1 kilometer to precisely match the natural foraging range of honeybees and wild bees.
At the national level, the project addresses the growing environmental stress on pollinator populations, which directly impacts agricultural and horticultural yields. Under the broader national campaign, NHAI field offices across India are mandated to develop at least three pollinator corridors, selecting climate-resilient and native species tailored to local agro-climatic zones.
Out of approximately 40 lakh trees planned for national highway plantation drives, nearly 60 percent are dedicated to bee-friendly, flowering vegetation. This structural integration ensures that linear highway infrastructure serves as an ecological network to support food security and biodiversity conservation across India.