Varanasi: The Varanasi region of eastern Uttar Pradesh is set to get a major ecological boost, with a first-of-its-kind bee corridor being developed along a 42.5-km stretch of the Greenfield Expressway in Ghazipur to revive declining honeybee populations. The initiative, aimed at strengthening pollination and supporting biodiversity, will create a continuous habitat of bee-friendly trees and plants along the highway.Ravi Kumar Singh, conservator of forest, said that the initiative is being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India in partnership with the forest department. Under the plan, three to four rows of plants and trees that attract bees will be planted along both sides of the highway.The project aims to address the steady decline in bee populations caused by industrialisation and urbanisation. Since bees play a crucial role in pollination, their declining numbers directly affect agriculture and food security.Green highways, which have adequate space on both sides, are being used for such ecological interventions. Plant species have been selected on the basis of scientific studies and will be planted in multiple rows.Officials expect the plants to establish themselves within six to seven months, after which the stretch will begin functioning as a bee corridor.
