Bhubaneswar: The National Highways Authority of India has launched the ‘Arogya Van’ programme, an initiative aimed at planting medicinal trees along vacant stretches of national highways to enhance ecological sustainability and promote traditional healthcare awareness.
In the first phase, more than 67,000 medicinal trees will be planted across 17 identified land parcels spanning approximately 62.8 hectares in multiple states, including Haryana. These plantations will be developed on unused land near toll plazas, interchanges, and other highway infrastructure zones.
The project will feature around 36 species of medicinal plants, including Neem, Amla, Jamun, and Lemon, selected based on regional climatic suitability to ensure optimal growth and ecological balance.
Officials said the initiative is designed to boost biodiversity by attracting birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, while also improving the environmental quality of highway corridors.
Beyond its ecological impact, the programme seeks to promote awareness of Ayurveda and India’s rich heritage of medicinal plants, effectively transforming highways into green, knowledge-rich landscapes.
The ‘Arogya Van’ initiative is part of NHAI’s broader push toward sustainable infrastructure development and environmentally responsible highway management.
-OdishaAge
