Delhi Metro: PWD Plans To Increase Green Covers Under Viaduct To Combat Air Pollution

The Public Works Department (PWD) has reportedly chalked out a new plan to battle air pollution in New Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR).

The department has decided to add more greeneries in the spaces available under the viaduct of the Delhi Metro. There are many locations in New Delhi where plants can be found beside roads as well as under the pillars connecting the metro lines. Now, some new places have been identified where the new green belts will be added.

According to a report by the Times of India, the Delhi government have been phishing the PWD to increase the green cover across the city as it will help in reducing dust on roads. As per the officials close to the development, the PWD may receive monetary assistance from the government for the project and funds will be finalised in the upcoming budget.

The PWD recently developed its first-ever road greenery maintenance plan to take care of the trees beside the roads and highways. It refers to a 12-point action plan, which includes weeding out, cleaning and watering the plants on a regular basis. The organisation has also planned to do soil loosening every fortnight and chemical and farmyard fertilisation two times a year.

As per the horticultural comprehensive maintenance plan, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will assist with cleaning footpaths, traffic islands and other parts of the roads. Besides the work being done on the greenery beneath the metro viaduct areas, the PWD further intends to decorate the stretches leading to the Outer Ring Road and Ring Road near the India Gate, the TOI report added.

Last year, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal revealed plans to increase the green cover across the city from 23 per cent to 28 per cent in the coming few years while speaking at a Van Mahotsav event. He said, “Delhi has more green cover than London and Tokyo. This is good news for Delhiites. Now, it is 23 percent and in one or two years, we have to take it to 25 percent, and then to 27 percent. We should not let it go down.”

Under the streetscaping project, the government began the work of adding more greeneries along several Metro routes. Thanks to the initiative, horticulture activities accounted for a sizable amount of the road budget for 16 pilot projects.