Ahead of the New Year celebrations, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has launched an ambitious drive to boost the city's green cover and visual appeal. The civic body has begun simultaneous development and beautification work at 24 distinct locations spread across various wards, aiming to transform vacant and under-utilized spaces into vibrant green patches.
Transforming Urban Spaces with Greenery
The comprehensive initiative focuses on enhancing the city's aesthetics, improving the environmental balance, and making productive use of idle land. The project scope is wide, targeting major intersections, road dividers, open plots, and roadside stretches. The landscaping work is not limited to just planting trees; it involves a holistic approach including the plantation of suitable trees and shrubs, creation of walking pathways, artistic wall paintings, and the regular trimming of existing roadside trees.
RMC officials stated that the work is being undertaken concurrently in multiple zones to ensure a visible and positive transformation across Ranchi before the New Year dawns. The objective is to provide citizens with a cleaner, greener, and more positive environment, especially in densely populated urban areas.
Focus Areas and Resident Feedback
Specific areas where green patch development is actively underway include Mecon and Doranda. A notable site is the space near Nirmala College in Doranda, which was previously encroached upon. The RMC has cleared this site and initiated landscaping and plantation to convert it into a public-friendly zone.
"We are focusing on developing green spaces in densely used urban areas while also improving parks and gardens through plantation, pruning and maintenance," said RMC admin Sushant Gaurav on Wednesday. He confirmed that similar horticultural activities are in progress in the city's major parks and gardens, involving grass cutting, planting new saplings, and overall beautification for the festive season.
Other key locations in this drive include Harmu Chowk, Birsa Chowk, Kutchery Road, Albert Ekka Chowk, Kanke Road, Siram Toli, Bahu Bazar, and Mecon Chowk.
However, the initiative has received a mixed response from Ranchi's residents. While many appreciate the focus on expanding greenery, some citizens have pointed out other pressing civic issues. Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Harmu, expressed a common sentiment: "Green patches are welcome, but at the same time, safer roads, better footpaths and proper drainage are equally important. Sometimes it feels like beautification is happening faster than basic infrastructure repair."
A Step Towards a Greener Ranchi
This pre-New Year push by the RMC underscores a growing emphasis on urban ecology and public space utility. By developing green patches at two dozen locations, the corporation is attempting to address environmental concerns while simultaneously upgrading the city's visual landscape. The success of this initiative will hinge not only on its execution but also on sustained maintenance, ensuring these new green lungs thrive and become integral parts of the community for years to come.
