Rlys on bid to raise green cover

For last six months,the CR has been carrying out the work of developing/renovating gardens at more than 14 stations like Parel,Dadar,Sion,Matunga,Thane,Nahur,Dombivli,Thakurli,Kalyan,Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar,Chembur,Wadala,Sewri and Chunabhatti. The WR also has plans to develop similar green patches at Bandra terminus and Santacruz. “At Chembur,we plan to plant different kinds of bamboo,” said Ramesh Kumar Misra,divisional engineer (horticulture),in-charge of horticulture projects on suburban section of CR.

To keep encroachers at bay,the railways have been following a policy of giving its land for cultivation. This area is known as “grow more”,which is mostly along the tracks. These areas have been leased out to the Class IV railway employees for a year. The railway employees cultivate ladyfinger,leafy vegetables and other vegetables in the “grow more” areas. The CR has leased out some 318 acres of land on the suburban section whereas the WR has leased out 67 acres of land to its employees. The land is used for commercial exploitation.

Some portions of the “grow more” land and green patches at the end of platforms have been used for laying of tracks under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (Phase I). Due to this some green areas have reduced. “These initiatives not only help the railways bring more areas under green cover,but also keep encroachers at bay,” said Shirniwas Mudgerikar,chief spokesperson,Central Railway.