If you see patches of green between the grey tracks, as you are travelling on the suburban rail line from Egmore to Saidapet, you can be sure you are not imagining it. As part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Southern Railway has begun efforts to beautify the railway lines by introducing plants, wherever space permits.
Just as the train leaves the Egmore Station, a patch of green soothes the eyes of the weary traveller. There is a similar sight as it leaves the Mambalam Station.
“It was started on October 2 along with the Clean India campaign at the station. The railways will create a mini garden next to the tracks, where there is some space. Egmore and Mambalam are the first to have these flowering plants,” says the Mambalam station master.
At Mambalam, the 100 metre-long garden has some 50 plants in a narrow area.
“The creation of the garden and its maintenance have been outsourced to a nursery. Every day the plants are watered and tended to. Many passengers have come and congratulated us for taking the effort to make the station beautiful,” he adds.Next, the station master has suggested planting of saplings along the outer wall of the station, towards West Mambalam. “If the broadening of the foot overbridge was undertaken, along with the greening of the station, it would really help commuters. Also, a barricade has been placed at the bridge to enable two-way pedestrian traffic, but this only occupies space. Instead, a hand grill will be more useful,” he says.Though the suburban stations have a long way to go in terms of becoming world-class, this seems to be a positive step towards achieving the goal.
