Bhubaneswar: Idle and vacant underpasses of at least six flyovers in the city will be beautified with plants.Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will start the initiative on Wednesday from CRP Square plantation — to promote greenery while lending an aesthetic beauty to the underpasses, which often turn into unauthorised parking spaces and cattle sheds, civic officials said.“We have identified the underpasses suitable for beautification and that can, in turn, help do away with eyesores. Shrubs, hedges and other decorative plants of low height will be planted,” said BMC deputy commissioner (environment) Sushreeta Tudu.Starting with CRP Square, a major junction on NH-16, the plantation drive will be implemented at Acharya Vihar, Vani Vihar, Rasulgarh, Fire Station Square and Baramunda. “Before monsoon, the plantation drive will be over so that they grow well to be taken care of naturally during the rainy season,” Tudu added.In another initiative, the most busy stretch from AG Square to Rajmahal Square, the wide median will be beautified with decorative plants. “The plantation drive will entail creation of flower beds, planting of grass (wherever required to lend an aesthetic touch), shrubs, hedge rows and trees. Besides, there will be planter boxes. Some pruning of the existing trees will also be required. While it will compensate for the loss of green cover, it will beautify the median,” the BMC environment officer added.Since 2019, after cyclone Fani hit and ravaged the city, shattering the medians and avenue plantations, BMC has been using small and fast-growing plants along the medians. Also, along some stretches, there are tall trees but they are climate-resilient.Notably, the city’s 11-km-long median from Biju Patnaik statue at Biju Patnaik International Airport to Damana Square has designer plantation.
