The Coimbatore Corporation has launched a drive to plant saplings along the medians of several major roads in the city, aiming to improve the urban landscape, and promote road safety.
Work is currently under way along Dr. Balasundaram Road, where a 495-metre median is being developed at ₹43.50 lakh; along Pollachi Road, where 318 metres of the 2.5-km median have been completed with ₹22.6 lakh allocated; and along Masakalipalayam Road, where a 575-metre median is being developed with a budget of ₹45 lakh.
Approval for other stretches is still awaited. Once approvals are received, the project will cover medians of varying lengths, including 600 metres along G.V. Residency Road, 300 metres along CBM College Road, 1,200 metres along Kovai Pudur A Block, 650 metres along Raju Road, 900 metres along Alagappa Road, and 1.65 km from Ukkadam to Athupalam. All medians have a standard height of 2.5 feet and a width of 2 feet.
The medians will feature a mix of ornamental and flowering plants selected for the project, including Areca Palm, Short Palm, Marigold, Red Rivera, Crotons, Akalipa, Red Lettuce, Pentonas, and Toronto.
Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran said that a dedicated team of workers will maintain the greenery on medians and traffic islands. The initiative was recently discussed at a Road Safety Committee meeting, which highlighted the role of medians in preventing pedestrians from crossing roads at unsafe points, guiding them to designated crossing areas, reducing glare from oncoming headlights, and lowering the risk of accidents. The greenery is also expected to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the roads.
