Officials plan to cultivate trees and plants covering around 18,172 square metres along 12 railway stations in the next two years
At a time when the city is slowly losing its green cover and citizens are starving for some fresh air and open spaces, the latest decision by the Railways might bring a smile to the faces of citizens. The rail authorities have decided to cultivate green stretches covering around 18,172 square metres (4.49 acres) alongrailway stations.
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Green tracks: Authorities want to cultivate green stretches across various railway stations to increase the green cover in the city and also to beautify the area. Pic/Datta Kumbhar
Authorities have identified 12 stations on both the Western and Central line where these green patches will be cultivated. Officials say that around 11,172 square metres on the Western line and 7,000 square metres on the Central line would include trees and plants of various types.
Presently, ugly sights such as heaps of garbage and slums often assail rail commuters’ sight. Additionally, cultivation of green, leafy vegetables is also carried out near the gutters, which has been criticised in the past by experts, who cite it as unhygienic.
Sources said that the green spaces, which would also be cultivated between tracks, would help act as a deterrent against crossing tracks. “Many people go to the end of the platform and jump the tracks as the fences between two rail lines end after a certain distance,” said a railway official, adding that it would take another two years for the green patches to be ready. u00a0
Green cover
(Stations where green patches will be created in square metre)
Central Railway
Dadar: 200
Kurla: 1,500
Kanjurmarg: 2,500
Thane: 800
Thakurli: 1,500
Kalyan: 500
Western Railway
Dadar: 500
Kandivali: 2,000
Borivali: 1,045
Bhayander: 2,711
Vasai Road: 1,916
Nallasopara: 3,000
Losing green spaces
Mumbai has been losing vital green cover owing to the hacking of trees. Since April 2012, the civic body has cleared proposals to cut nearly 8,790 trees for various infrastructure and building projects. Moreover the forest cover within Mumbai is also shrinking with the national park losing out on 542 acres of land in the last four years. All these are being used for various projects.
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