- Why in news
- On 17 February 2026, NHAI announced a first-of-its-kind plan to develop pollinator 'Bee Corridors' along National Highways, with at least three corridors planned in 2026–27.
- What it is
- A Bee Corridor is a continuous linear stretch of nectar- and pollen-rich vegetation planted to feed honeybees and other pollinators through the year. NHAI's version shifts highway plantations from ornamental to ecological planting. It uses native species, retains wild elements and aims for staggered flowering across seasons.
- Spacing of plantings
- Clusters of flowering trees are to be planted about 500 m to 1 km apart, matching the foraging range of honeybees and wild bees.
- Species chosen
- Native species such as Neem, Karanj, Mahua, Palash, Bottle Brush, Jamun and Siris will be planted.
- Targets for 2026–27
- NHAI field offices will develop at least three pollinator corridors in 2026–27.
- Scale of planting
- About 40 lakh trees are planned along highways in 2026–27, around 60 percent under the Bee Corridor initiative.
- Design features
- The corridors mix trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses, allow flowering weeds to bloom, and keep dead wood and hollow trunks useful to pollinators.
Don’t confuse with Bee Corridor vs. wildlife corridor: A bee corridor is a planted strip of flowering vegetation feeding pollinators. A wildlife corridor links habitats so large animals can move safely, and often involves underpasses or overpasses.
Environment: Prelims tests bodies, programmes and the law behind them; Mains asks why plans fall short.
Why it matters
- Supports pollinators, whose decline hurts crop and horticulture productivity and ecological balance.
- Turns highway plantations from ornamental to ecological use, making linear infrastructure more nature-friendly.
Problems
- Success depends on local agro-climatic suitability, correct species choice and survival of saplings.
- Roadside pollinators face vehicle traffic and pollution, and corridors need upkeep by many field offices.
Way forward
- Monitor pollinator numbers and tree survival, and publish results to guide scaling.
- Limit pesticide and herbicide use near the corridors and involve local communities and agriculture departments.
Put in your answer
NHAI Bee Corridor, 2026–27: Example of linear infrastructure designed for ecological outcomes: about 60% of 40 lakh planned trees fall under the Bee Corridor initiative.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: New first-of-kind ecological plantation initiative on highways; pollinator conservation is on syllabus, but UPSC rarely asks about such initiatives and it has few testable facts.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.