Park makeover plan with focus on green mission

Kolkata: Some major parks in the city are set to get

a makeover shortly. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is working for the overhaul of these parks.

Work includes beautification, seating arrangements for the elderly, separate space for morning and evening walk, tree plantation, and pathways with paver block.

"The greening project

has been being undertaken using funds from Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) project. We have identified 17 parks in the city to be beautified and eight parks have already seen a facelift," a senior official of Parks and Gardens department of KMC said.

According to the official, the work also includes setting up facilities for a children corner in some of the parks that have more space.

Joyrides such as cradles, seesaw and slides will be installed for children.

Most of the parks will also have pathways made of paver block to facilitate walking. Playgrounds are also being developed depending on the availability of space.

Deshbandhu Park in Shyambazar, Tala Park, Marcus Square near College Street, and Lunar Math at Ward no. 129 in Behala is witnessing rejuvenation while a new park facility is being created at Diamond Park in Thakurpukur.

Under the AMRUT project, state and Centre share 45 percent of funds while KMC has to bear 10 percent of the project cost.

A total of Rs 18 crore has been sanctioned under the project for a period of three years.

Work has already been completed in eight parks, including Hazra Park, Bhagini Nivedita Udyan at Bagbazar, and Nawab Ali Park in Ekbalpore.

"We have been adopting a scientific approach in tree plantation at the parks. Big-sized trees are not grown in the parks. Only small to medium sized plants such as Tagar, Rangan, Jhau, Croton, Goldiana and Palm are grown to add to the beauty and greenery of the parks. The chance of these trees getting uprooted in a squall is minimum," the official said.