NHAI to Launch Odisha’s First Bee Corridor Project Along Key Highway Stretches

Bhubaneswar: Odisha will soon witness the launch of its first-ever Bee Corridor project, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planning large-scale plantation of pollinator-friendly trees and flowering species along major highway stretches across the state.

The initiative, scheduled to begin during the upcoming monsoon season in June, is aimed at creating eco-sensitive highway corridors that support honeybees and other pollinators while improving environmental sustainability along national highways.

As part of the project, nearly 20,000 saplings of flowering and nectar-producing species will be planted in selected stretches across Sambalpur, Dhenkanal and Ganjam districts.

Officials said the plantation programme will focus on developing continuous green belts capable of providing suitable habitats and food sources for pollinators throughout the year.

The identified stretches include parts of NH-53 connecting Talcher, Kamakhyanagar and Duburi, NH-55 between Angul and Sambalpur, and sections of NH-16 from Puintola to Ichhapuram.

Tree species proposed under the project include neem, karanj, arjun, kadamba, jamun, tamarind and kanchan. Additional varieties such as mahua, palash, bottle brush and siris will also be planted to strengthen biodiversity and flowering cycles.

According to officials, the Bee Corridor initiative is part of a broader effort to transform roadside plantations into environmentally functional ecosystems instead of purely ornamental green cover.

The project is expected to contribute to pollinator conservation, climate-friendly infrastructure development and ecological restoration while also enhancing the visual landscape along Odisha’s highway network.