Bhubaneswar, Oct. 12 (UDN): The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has planted around 5.20 lakh saplings across Odisha over the past four months as part of a series of environmental initiatives aimed at expanding green cover, protecting biodiversity and supporting pollinators.
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The plantation drive includes medicinal gardens, bee-friendly corridors, greenery along highway medians and community-based planting programmes, reflecting efforts to integrate environmental conservation with highway infrastructure development.
Arogya Van to Preserve Medicinal Plants
Under its Arogya Van initiative, NHAI has planted 2,500 medicinal saplings at Kunduli in Koraput district along the Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor (NH-130CD).
The plantation features traditional medicinal species such as Bahada, Neem, Harida and Amla. The initiative seeks to conserve indigenous plants while highlighting their ecological and medicinal significance.
NHAI plans to develop medicinal green spaces on suitable vacant land along national highways. These areas are expected to provide habitats for birds and small wildlife, support pollinators and improve ecological resilience.
Bee Corridors to Support Pollinators
As part of its Bee Corridor Plantation initiative, NHAI has planted at least 39,337 saplings of species including Neem, Spathodea, Arjun, Patoli, Kadamba, Tabebuia rosea and Radhachuda.
The initiative aims to create more pollinator-friendly stretches along highway corridors, helping strengthen local biodiversity.
Highway Medians and Community Plantations
The greening campaign also covers highway medians, where 87,338 plants have been planted. Species such as Bougainvillea, Tecoma, Calliandra and Caesalpinia have been selected to enhance the appearance and ecological value of highway stretches.
In addition, the authority has planted 6,000 bamboo saplings and undertaken community plantation activities involving another 7,097 plants.
Plantation drives have also been extended to schools, colleges and other community spaces to encourage public participation in environmental protection and expand green cover beyond highway land.
Green Infrastructure Push
Through medicinal plantations, pollinator-friendly corridors and community greening programmes, NHAI aims to make highway development more environmentally sustainable.
The initiatives are expected to contribute to biodiversity conservation and environmental awareness while improving greenery along Odisha’s national highway network.
