City Forest on Hindon banks opens doors in Ghaziabad

GHAZIABAD: More than 200 people thronged the 150-acre 'city forest' in Raj Nagar Extension on Saturday as the first phase of the recreational park was formally opened to public by the Ghaziabad Development Authority.
The park, which is located on the banks of the Hindon, will soon have walking trails, cycle tracks, camel safaris, horse-riding facility and guided tours for visitors.
To mark the opening of the first phase of the project, which is spread across 30 acres, GDA has organized a two-day cultural programme and is offering the public an opportunity to try all rides free of charge.
GDA chairman Santosh Yadav said the park will be open from 10am to 6pm on all seven days. A private contractor has been hired for maintenance and operating the facilities for the next five years. "The cycle trails will be about 10 feet wide. The pathway for hikers will be narrower. Trees like neem, bamboo, amla, jamun, arjun have been planted along the routes," said Yadav. "This gives the whole place the look of a natural forest," he said.
Officials said in the last one year, nearly two lakh saplings of different varieties have been planted in the area in addition to the existing tree cover of the region. The entire project area has been divided into nine blocks - A to I - with different features and facilities in each part.
"Setting up such facilities is the only way to save the environment from total concretization. It will also help recharge groundwater, and give sanctuary to the birds in the area," said Yadav.
Two water bodies in the park - a five acre and a three-acre lake - will have boating facilities for visitors. The three-acre lake is a natural wetland whereas tube wells have been set up for the five acre lake to augment water supply to it. Yadav said that the lakes are expected to attract migratory birds in the coming winters.
A deer park spread across five acres has also been proposed. The Authority will also develop a bamboo park and has sought technical advice from the Delhi's chief conservator of forests and Forest Research Institute of Dehradun.