Corp's greening moves elicit mixed views as parking takes a hit

Trichy: The city corporation’s move to plant ornamental trees on a vacant space along busy Lawsons Road has evoked a mixed response, as many fear this could trouble motorists jostling for parking spaces while others believe it as a perfect step towards development.
As a part of beautification drive, the corporation has partnered with Horticulture College and Research Institute for Women in Navalur Kuttappattu to grow ornamental plants along wider roads.

The civic body, which has already made the area along Anna Nagar Link Road look green with royal palm and foxtail palm, kicked off planting ornamental trees along space on Lawsons Road near Ayyappan temple

The authorities have earmarked the 2,400 square feet stretch, which people use for parking cars, to grow ornamental trees and establish a walking track.

“The space should have been left vacant for parking. This will force people to park cars on roads creating traffic congestion,” said C Balasubramanian, honorary president of Trichy district Exnora. As a majority of commercial complexes in the city lack parking space and authorities are going soft on violations, such spaces are a huge relief for motorists. “The vacant space was largely helpful only for the commercial outlets to enable their customers to park their parks. Corporation space should not be used for commercial benefits of others,” Karthikeyan Sundaram, a resident of New Raja Colony, told TOI.

Corporation has planned to install a pedestrian platform on the vacant stretch where at least 40 ornamental trees would be planted. Leaving aside a metre area from the end of Lawsons Road, the officials have commenced the works to make the space green.

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