NHAI to develop ‘Arogya Van’ on vacant land along NHs

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Wednesday, said it will plant medicinal tree species on vacant land parcels along the National Highways, a move aimed at enhancing biodiversity and strengthening the ecosystem resilience.

As per the action plan, the first phase of ‘Arogya Van’ will cover 17 land parcels spanning over 62.8 hectares, where around 67,462 medicinal trees will be planted along different National Highway projects in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

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Also, around 36 tree species with established medicinal properties such as Neem, Amla, Imli, Jamun, Lemon, Gular, Maulsari etc. have been identified and will be planted at land parcels as per suitability to the respective agro-climatic zones, the ministry of road transport and highways said.

“Priority will be given to land parcels near toll plazas, wayside amenities, interchanges, cloverleaf junctions and other prominent stretches along National Highways to maximize public awareness and outreach,” it added.

The ministry said the initiative will be rolled out in accordance with government’s guidelines on landscaping and tree plantation.

Traditionally, plantation activities along National Highways have been undertaken using a mix of native and avenue tree species aimed at greening and ecological stabilization.

NHAI has identified approximately 188 hectares of vacant land for plantations during the forthcoming monsoon season to ensure higher survival rates and long-term sustainability

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The recent initiative aligns with the government’s priority to promote traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and contribute towards conservation of indigenous medicinal flora.

Further, these plantations are envisaged as living repositories that will create public awareness about traditional medicinal knowledge systems and their relevance in contemporary times.

The road ministry is of the view that the initiative will create a network of green corridors that not only enhance roadside ecology but also serve as knowledge hubs, promoting awareness about India’s rich heritage of medicinal plants and sustainable living practices.