Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Leads NHAI Push for Arogya Van Along National Highways

New Delhi, April 8: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has spearheaded a new initiative under the National Highways Authority of India to develop ‘Arogya Van’, a project focused on planting medicinal trees across vacant land parcels along National Highways.

The initiative aims to integrate ecological sustainability with infrastructure development by creating green stretches that support biodiversity, including pollinators, birds, and microfauna.

In the first phase, authorities have identified 17 land parcels covering over 62.8 hectares, where more than 67,000 medicinal trees will be planted across multiple states.

These include regions such as Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.

Officials have shortlisted around 36 medicinal tree species, including Neem, Amla, Imli, Jamun, Lemon, Gular, and Maulsari, based on their adaptability to different agro climatic zones.

Priority areas for plantation include spaces near toll plazas, interchanges, wayside amenities, and other high visibility stretches to increase public awareness.

The implementation will follow government guidelines on landscaping and tree plantation to ensure uniformity and sustainability.

Traditionally, roadside plantations focused on general greenery, but this initiative introduces a thematic approach centered on medicinal value and ecological benefits.

NHAI has also identified nearly 188 hectares of vacant land for plantation during the upcoming monsoon season to improve survival rates of the saplings.

Officials believe that focusing on medicinal plants will add educational and cultural value to highway infrastructure.