As a constant endeavour and commitment to preserve environment, Konkan Railway is planting about 30,000 plant saplings along its route during this monsoon. Renowned as a railway with a scenic view all along its route which makes the journey as enjoyable as the destination, Konkan Railway is adding more green cover along its route by tree & shrub plantation on the embankment, level crossings, cuttings etc along its route
In the past 3 years, Konkan Railway has planted over one lakh saplings of various fruit and flowering trees along its route. This includes various ornamental trees like Bougainville, Bahava, Gulmohar, and Peltophorum ; fruit bearing trees like Jambul, Sitaphal, Chikoo, Cherry, Guava, Jamun; Shade providing trees like Badam, Acasia, Suru, Satvin, Amla ; Medicinal trees like Kanchan, Neem, Ashoka; Wood providing trees like Silver Oak, Teak, Mahogany, and other trees like Babul, Auster, Casurina, Buguri, etc.
Pomendi cutting, which was once categorized as a vulnerable cutting and was made safe with extensive geo-safety works, is now being beautified. Konkan Railway has planted 1,000 saplings of Mango and Cashew nut trees on the berms of this cutting. The saplings have grown now to about 2 mtrs height and are likely to start bearing fruits in a year or two.
Konkan Railway consults local agriculturists and plantation owners for carrying out such plantations in order to take their expert views on type of trees to be grown depending upon site conditions. Such plants are selected whose roots can penetrate deep enough in the soil to sustain high rainfall and wind velocity. None of the plants adversely affect the alkalinity and water table of the soil.
In the current monsoon, plantation is planned to be undertaken mainly at identified yards and cuttings along the railway line.
It is appropriate to mention here that Konkan Railway also made use of Indian Remote sensing satellite data during construction phase to ascertain that the vegetation and natural waterways were least disturbed. Konkan Railway is, therefore, aptly referred to as the Garden Railway and the plantation drive conducted every year on the route is in keeping up with the environment consciousness of the Corporation.
Chief Public Relations Officer
