Tiruchi Corporation, which has embarked upon an ambitious project of establishing 20 more parks in the city, has taken the concept of selfies to a whole new level.
In order to promote its greening drive, it is now telling residents: Take selfies with plants.
Specially designed stands showcasing a variety of plants adorn a public park on Royal Road. The park was thrown open to the public recently.
At the park, ‘selfie’ plants — a row of vegetation grown vertically — have been raised on stands adjacent to the eastern compound wall of the park. Each stand has five rows of plants. Each row has 20 small-sized pots displaying different species.
The plants are frequently trimmed and instantly draw the attraction of visitors, who throng the parks in large numbers on weekends and public holidays. Since the plants provide a picturesque background and add colour to the images, visitors invariably spend a few minutes taking selfies on their mobile.
The initiative has become a hit among newly married couples and college students, who vie with each other to take pictures. They also want to get to know the plants better.
“The move is a hit among youngsters. Most of the visitors, who visit the park with their partners, invariably pose for picture in front of plants,” says the caretaker of Royal Road park.
“The ‘selfie plants’ have become an instant hit,” Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran told The Hindu .
He has received reports that nearly 30% of the visitors pose for pictures in front of the plants at the park. Moreover, the plants have added beauty to the park. Many residents, including apartment dwellers, make a beeline to the park to learn more about the plants, he said.
Plans are afoot to put up 20 more public parks in the city within six months. And ‘selfie’ plants stands will be raised in most of them.
