Delhi floats tender for 12K plantations to beautify SP Marg

New Delhi
Around 12,000 flowering trees and shrubs, including amaltas and bougainvillaea, will be planted along the Sardar Patel Marg to beautify it and a tender has been floated for the same, officials of the Delhi forest and wildlife department said on Wednesday.
A similar drive in June 2023—wherein Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena asked the forest department for a five-layered plantation of around six flowering species at the ridge, including chinar and cherry blossoms, in the run-up to the G20 Summit—did not yield desired results, a senior forest department official said on condition of anonymity. The drive focused on the side facing SP Marg as it provided access to visitors and dignitaries commuting between central Delhi and the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
The forest department official said the plantation drive is likely to commence in monsoon season, and fully grown saplings—around 10 to 12 feet high—will be planted. 'The aim is to beautify the initial part of the stretch adjacent to the forest with flowering trees and shrubs. This will make the approach aesthetically pleasing and we are focusing on native species,' the official said.
They said over 1,000 each of amaltas, Lagerstroemia speciosa (Queen's crepe myrtle), and Tabebuia rosea (rosy trumpet tree) will be planted, and around 8,400 bougainvillea will be planted, according to the tender. The last date for submitting bids is June 2, as per the tender dated May 26.
The forest official said that while the species are not expected to flower this year, there is a possibility some species may flower by next year.
Experts, however, questioned the choice of species selected.
Environmentalist Pradip Krishen said that barring amaltas, the remaining three species were not native to the ridge. 'Even bougainvillaea may survive in the ridge, but that does not mean it is a good reason to plant it there. Just because a species is able to grow on thin rocky soils, you cannot let ornamental exotic plants be introduced there. On one hand, the forest department says is ecologically restoring the ridge, but at the same time, it is opting for such species which are not native at all,' he said.
Delhi has four prominent ridge areas, with a total area of around 7,784 hectares. The largest—the Southern Ridge—is spread over 6,200 hectares. Central Ridge is the next largest, with an area of 864 hectares. The South-Central Ridge in Mehrauli is spread across 626 hectares and the Northern Ridge is spread across 87 hectares. The Nanakpura south-central ridge is spread across seven hectares.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Indian Express

4 days ago

• Indian Express

IndiGo flight from Delhi to Leh returns mid-air due to techncial issue

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Leh returned to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport shortly after take-off Thursday morning due to a technical issue. The Airbus A320-251N, operating as IndiGo's 6E2006, took off from the IGI Airport at 6.30 am and was scheduled to land at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh by 7.50 am. However, the flight faced a technical issue and returned to Delhi as a precautionary measure. The flight was checked and took off again at 10.36 am. IndiGo has not issued a formal statement regarding the matter yet. Since the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, in which 241 people on board the flight were killed, flights across India have seen an uptick in emergency landings. On Monday, an Air India Express flight from Delhi to Ranchi faced a technical issue and returned for an emergency landing. After inspections, the aircraft was cleared for operations at 7.56 pm, and landed in Ranchi at 9.27 pm. The flight was scheduled to take off at 4.25 pm, but took off at 4.39 pm and was eventually diverted back to Delhi. An Air India flight from Delhi to Hong Kong also turned back for an emergency landing 90 minutes into the flight after facing technical issues Monday. This Air India flight was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the same model involved in the Ahmedabad crash. On Sunday evening, an Air India flight from Delhi to Vadodara returned shortly after take-off due to reportedly a problem with the landing gear. The flight had just taken off from the IGI Airport when the crew reportedly observed that the landing gear was not retracting properly. On June 12, Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off. All passengers on board, except for one, were killed, along with several individuals on the ground, as the plane struck the buildings of the B J Medical College hostel.

Business Standard

5 days ago

• Business Standard

Air India cancels Delhi-Paris flight amid technical snag, wider disruptions

Air India had to cancel its scheduled flight from Delhi to Paris on Tuesday after a fault was identified during routine pre-flight inspections. The airline said the issue, discovered as part of mandatory checks before take-off, is currently under examination and being addressed. The affected service, flight AI-143 to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport, was unable to depart due to operational constraints posed by night-flight curbs at the French airport. In light of the disruption, the return leg, flight AI-142 from Paris to Delhi scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, has also been cancelled. 'Flight AI143 from Delhi to Paris on 17 June has been cancelled. The mandatory pre-flight checks identified an issue, which is currently being resolved. However, due to Paris CDG's night operation restrictions, the flight has been called off,' the airline confirmed with news agency PTI. Air India added that it is providing hotel accommodation to stranded passengers and is offering either full refunds or complimentary rescheduling to those affected. The airline has also committed to arranging alternative travel plans 'at the earliest' for passengers awaiting onward journeys. This marks yet another operational hiccup for the Tata Group-owned national carrier, which has experienced a string of flight disruptions over recent days. Air India Ahmedabad to London flight cancelled On the same day, flight AI159 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was cancelled due to the unavailability of an aircraft. The airline attributed this to international airspace restrictions and prolonged turnaround times stemming from additional safety checks, not a technical malfunction, as had been speculated. A spokesperson clarified, 'Flight AI159 has been cancelled today due to aircraft unavailability caused by ongoing airspace constraints and precautionary inspections. It was not due to any technical fault.' This London-bound service had only recently resumed on Monday, June 16, operating under a new flight code after being suspended following the crash on June 12. The previous iteration of this flight, AI-171, had crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 270 people, including 29 on the ground. In its revived form as AI-159, the route had resumed operations after a five-day suspension, only to face fresh disruption. The fallout extended further, with Air India also cancelling flight AI-170 from London to Amritsar scheduled for Tuesday, June 17. San Francisco–Mumbai Air India flight grounded in Kolkata Meanwhile, in a separate incident the same day, a San Francisco–Mumbai flight, which included a stop in Kolkata, was grounded after a suspected technical issue was detected during post-landing checks. All passengers were safely deplaned in Kolkata. Several passengers shared mixed accounts of the experience. Some appreciated the airline's efforts in providing food, communication, and hotel stays. Others noted that the lack of clarity and prolonged wait inside the aircraft—lasting up to five hours—added to confusion and discomfort. One passenger reported that the issue appeared to involve the aircraft's left engine and that, despite the delay, there was no panic among travellers. 'These technical faults are part of flying,' a passenger remarked, adding that they had faced similar delays on other international carriers.

Indian Express

7 days ago

• Indian Express

‘Delhi is a true picture of unity in diversity… a melting pot'

In the last three-and-a-half years she has spent in Delhi, the city has become like a second home for Ina Hagniningtyas Krisnamurthi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to India. Not just food, she loves the diversity of the city, but also its food. In her career spanning nearly two decades, she has held various diplomatic positions and has held various other government posts. She is an MA in International Studies from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. She speaks to The Indian Express as part of a series of interviews with Ambassadors about Delhi — a city she admires. Excerpts: One place in the city that you like visiting often. Delhi for me is like a second home. It's not easy for me to pinpoint one, but I often visit Nehru Park or Lodhi Garden… very friendly and green. What has stood out in Delhi during your stay? In Indonesia, we have this principle of 'Bhinekka Tunggal Ika', which loosely translates in English to 'unity in diversity'. I think Delhi is truly a picture of unity in diversity. When I arrived here in 2022, there were 152 diplomatic missions. Now, the number has gone up to 180. The city is a melting pot of diplomats, especially from many faraway countries. I was posted in New York before…there are 193 missions there. Secondly, when you talk about food, you can find cuisines from all Indian states. Unfortunately, Odisha Bhawan is now undergoing a renovation, but that is one of the places that I frequent because I love Odisha's food. It almost has a Southeast Asian flavour. Thirdly, even as Delhi is not my favourite Indian city, it has a character unlike many others. The past and the future come together. It's so colouful. You can say that you can understand Delhi, but you cannot, because every corner of the city brings out a different side. My favourite place is Chandigarh, and another city for me that I fell in love with right away is Visakhapatnam. Memories or encounters in the city that you'll never forget? One was the G20 Summit. The lockdown during the G20 Summit for three days…it was all so beautiful, my God! It was very romantic. I cannot explain in words. Second, when Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto came here as the Chief Guest of the Republic Day parade this year. In October, when the decision came to invite my president, I was doubtful that we could do it. India made it happen because you're so unbelievably good at extending your friendship. Favourite food in the city? The South Indian food in Malcha Marg, and I also love fried fish. And also, Dhaba in Claridges, because I love the butter chicken, and also the garlic naan. But the dal, I think, Bukhara is the best…by far. The dal is unbelievable. I just buy the dal and eat it with naan or roti. That's it. I can eat that forever. If you have to introduce Delhi back home, what will you tell them? First, unity in diversity. Second, the warmth of the people. Third, even Delhiites can't fully know the city… because if you go to Old Delhi, every nook and corner is different…Every time I go there, I go okay, how come this is here? I did not see it before.