Withering plants, hoardings mar Trichy’s beautification drive

Trichy: The flowering and ornamental plants planted on the medians of Trichy's major roads as part of the city's beautification project have started withering, failing to achieve their intended purpose. In addition, numerous advertisement hoardings erected on the medians are undermining the project's aesthetic appeal, drawing public criticism.
Since 2019, Trichy Corporation has been cultivating ornamental plants on medians along major roads, including Bharathidasan Road, West Boulevard Road, Airport Road, Anna Nagar Link Road, EVR Road, East Boulevard Road, and Puthur High Road.While certain stretches, such as Airport Road, receive proper maintenance, including regular watering, plants on Puthur High Road are wilting. These ornamental plants not only enhance the city's appearance but also, along with steel fencing, prevent pedestrians from crossing the dividers.
"In the medians of Anna Nagar Link Road, several advertisement hoardings have been placed among the decorative plants. The illuminated boards distract motorists, and the decorative plants should not be disturbed," said T Ashok Kumar, a resident of Anna Nagar.
Trichy Corporation, through an agency, generates revenue by granting advertisement rights on the medians, but some residents have opposed this move. While locals blame inadequate maintenance by the agencies, the corporation attributes the damage to a pest attack. "Pest infection has been identified in the decorative plants. We are in the process of selecting suitable plant varieties that can withstand such issues, and they will soon replace the wilting plants on the medians," a corporation official stated.