PWD will place approximately 35,000 potted plants in their new sites over the next few days. Already, a section of Mathura Road in front of Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan has turned into a lush green zone with pots of colourful blooms.
PWD has created ecological zones on empty traffic islands where full-grown trees of different varieties were planted and the earth hidden by ground-cover plants. Artificial green walls hide the areas that were causing hindrances to the aesthetic revamp work.
Last month, in a review meeting held by lieutenant governor VK Saxena with all the civic departments concerned, an action plan was made to beautify 23 roads under the jurisdiction of PWD. Mathura Road, Zakir Hussain Marg, Purana Quila road, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Sachivalaya Road, Mandir Marg, Press Enclave Marg, Suraj Kunj Road and Vikas Marg were among the roads selected for the revamp. At all these roads, potted plants of different sizes are being used to enhance green cover.
At the Mathura Road intersection with Bhairon Marg, the traffic island has been decorated with a three-step formation of potted plants. Pots have been placed on the footpath also. To increase the green cover on the roads, PWD is filling the shallow depression around big trees with soil and planting ground cover-plants to create an overall impression of all-round greenery. Potted plants are also being placed in areas to fill in the gaps in the greenery along the Ring Road stretch between Rajghat and Red Fort.
For proper coordination and execution of work, PWD has attached officers of the horticulture wing with the road civil engineering wing of the department till the conclusion of the summit. The prestigious summit is slated to be held next month from September 8 to 10 when several foreign dignitaries will be present in the city.
Four types of palms are being procured for planting, these being Seaforthia, Raphis, Phoenix and areca. According to a PWD official straight, well developed, fresh and healthy plants with lush green leaves are being procured and placed in earthen and plastic pots.