Pune’s Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has announced a comprehensive strategy to safeguard and enhance roadside plantations in a determined effort to expand the city’s green cover and strengthen its environmental resilience. The initiative underscores the civic body’s long-term vision of creating a sustainable and climate-conscious urban landscape.
The strategy places particular emphasis on protecting trees along road dividers and footpaths, often the most vulnerable stretches in expanding cities. Officials confirmed that the plan includes planting native species at regular intervals, supported by structured monitoring systems to ensure survival. In addition to plantation drives, strict instructions have been issued to improve maintenance standards through scheduled watering, pruning, and protection from waste dumping.
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A detailed review was conducted across key stretches of the city, covering arterial roads and high-density neighbourhoods. Senior officials from the Garden Department inspected ongoing plantation work and directed teams to introduce uniform spacing between trees, install bamboo guards, and enforce geo-fencing technology for accurate tracking of plantation quality. Authorities also confirmed that penalties will be imposed on contractors who neglect mandated care despite repeated reminders.
The civic body’s renewed focus reflects the growing recognition that urban tree cover is not just a cosmetic addition but a critical necessity for controlling air pollution, mitigating heat stress, and enhancing biodiversity. Experts underline that planting native species plays a significant role in ensuring long-term ecological balance, as such varieties demand less maintenance and adapt better to local conditions compared to exotic alternatives.
While PCMC’s ambitious plantation programme is welcomed, environmental planners note that ensuring tree survival is often the real challenge. Previous civic drives across Indian cities have been criticised for high mortality rates due to inadequate monitoring. In response, the new strategy explicitly integrates survival audits, geo-tagging, and routine field inspections. Civic experts stress that such transparency is vital to restoring public trust in afforestation programmes.
The initiative also reflects a shift towards integrating sustainability into mainstream governance. By linking green infrastructure with urban mobility corridors, the corporation aims to ensure that roadside stretches are not only visually appealing but also serve as carbon sinks, shade providers, and dust barriers. Additional inspections in public gardens were also undertaken to strengthen civic amenities, with directions to improve security, lighting, and maintenance of public facilities.
With Pune’s urban footprint expanding rapidly, PCMC’s structured focus on preserving and expanding tree cover signals a more responsible model of city development. The effectiveness of this initiative will depend on consistent monitoring, community participation, and long-term care, but its intent highlights the growing role of green planning in building resilient and equitable cities.
