The East Coast Road that runs from the city to Puducherry will soon be lined with more indigenous varieties of trees.
At present, about 14,000 trees are on the stretch between Akkarai and Mamallapuram. “By this month end, 5,600 tree saplings that are each 10 feet tall will be planted on either side of the road,” said an official of the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company (TNRDC).
Already, nearly 3,800 have been planted by the company which is presently giving the finishing touches to the project to widen the 33-km long road into four lanes at a cost of Rs. 272 crore.
“Only indigenous varieties of trees including neem, peepal , poovarasu , mahogany and maramalli have been chosen for planting. All the trees are being provided with tree guards and stacking sticks and the saplings will be maintained for at least two years. We hope in a year’s time, they will develop well despite the sandy loam soil,” explained an official.
The TNRDC will be spending close to Rs. 55 lakh for planting and maintaining the saplings that are expected to give out 100 kg of oxygen per tree per day. “Since the soil conditions are not very conducive, we are using red soil, coir pith and organic material in the pits that are dug 7 - 8 m apart,” he said.
G. Murugan, who travels frequently from Puducherry to Chennai, said that the existing trees play a key role in maintaining the scenic beauty of the ECR.
“The trees also offer shade to those who stop for a break from driving and also to vendors selling tender coconuts and nungu. Perhaps more resting points or places where families can have refreshments with benches, seating arrangements and wash areas could be developed around clusters of trees for the comfort of travellers,” he suggested.
