In April 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), has launched an initiative called ‘Arogya Van(health forest)’ to develop thematic corridors of medicinal tree plantations along National Highways(NH), aimed at enhancing biodiversity and promoting medicinal plants.
- The initiative also supports the promotion of traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and the conservation of indigenous medicinal flora.
About Arogya Van:
Phase 1: The first phase covers 17 land parcels over 62.8 hectares, with about 67,462 medicinal trees to be planted across Madhya Pradesh(MP), Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh(AP), Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu(TN), Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.
Species: Around 36 types of medicinal trees have been selected, including Neem, Amla, Jamun, Imli (Tamarind), Gular (Cluster Fig), and Maulsari as per suitability to the respective agro-climatic zones.
Priority sites: Near toll plazas, wayside amenities, interchanges, cloverleaf junctions, and other prominent highway stretches to maximise visibility and public awareness.
Implementation: The initiative will be implemented in accordance with the Government of India’s guidelines on landscaping and tree plantation.
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