The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a new initiative to develop ‘Arogya Van’ – thematic plantations of medicinal trees – on vacant land parcels along national highways, in a move aimed at enhancing biodiversity and promoting ecological sustainability.
The initiative seeks to create green corridors enriched with medicinal plant species that support pollinators, birds and microfauna, thereby strengthening ecosystem resilience along highway networks.
In the first phase, NHAI has identified 17 land parcels spanning over 62.8 hectares across multiple states, including Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Around 67,462 medicinal trees are planned to be planted under this phase.
As part of the project, nearly 36 species of medicinal trees – such as Neem, Amla, Jamun and Imli – have been selected based on their suitability to different agro-climatic zones. These plantations will be carried out near toll plazas, wayside amenities, interchanges and other prominent highway stretches to maximise visibility and public awareness.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) said that approximately 188 hectares of vacant land has also been earmarked for future plantation during the upcoming monsoon season to ensure higher survival rates and long-term sustainability of the initiative.
The ‘Arogya Van’ project marks a shift from traditional highway plantation practices, which primarily focused on general greening and ecological stabilisation. By adopting a thematic approach centred on medicinal plants, the initiative aims to enhance not only environmental value but also educational and cultural significance.
The programme aligns with the Government of India’s broader push to promote traditional systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, while conserving indigenous medicinal flora. These plantations are expected to serve as “living repositories” that will help raise awareness about India’s rich heritage of medicinal plants and their relevance in modern life.
With this initiative, NHAI aims to integrate infrastructure development with environmental conservation, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly highway expansion across the country.
