Haryana to Launch Matri Van Project Along Gurugram Faridabad Road in Major Green Push
Haryana is set to inaugurate its ambitious ‘Matri Van’ project on August 2 along the Gurugram-Faridabad Road, a significant initiative by the state’s Forest Department to restore the Aravalli ecosystem. Spread across 800 acres from Khushboo Chowk to Ghata Chowk, this flagship project, developed under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, is poised to become one of the National Capital Region’s (NCR) largest biodiversity parks, transforming a key urban stretch into a vital green haven.
The inauguration will commence with a visit to the proposed Aravalli Safari Area near Sakatpur-Gairatpur Bass, followed by a large-scale mass plantation drive at the Matri Van site. The event is expected to draw a wide array of participants, including government dignitaries, corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners, schoolchildren, resident welfare associations (RWAs), NGOs, and various civic agencies, underscoring its community-driven approach. Vinit Kumar Garg, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Haryana, will address the gathering, highlighting the project’s long-term ecological vision.
Forest officials confirm that invasive plant species like Kabuli Kikar will be systematically removed and replaced with native, long-rotation Aravalli species such as Dhauk, Kullu, Khair, Pilkhan, and Salar, aiming to restore the forest patch to a thriving native landscape. Sustainability is a key focus, with maintenance and development overseen by the forest department through CSR partnerships and active support from citizen-led groups. Multiple corporations have already pledged funding for plantations, signage, and essential infrastructure.
Matri Van will feature diverse themed zones, including Bodhi Vatika, Pushp Vatika, Sugandh Vatika, and Medicinal Plants Vatika, along with a Bamboosetum, Nakshatra and Rashi Vatikas, an Aravalli Arboretum, and Butterfly and Cactus Gardens. Recreational amenities like walking and cycling tracks, yoga spaces, gazebos, and recreational trails will also be integrated. Additionally, water bodies for aquifer recharge and urban flood management, supported by misting systems and treated-water irrigation, will ensure year-round greenery. This project is a crucial step towards enhancing Gurugram’s environmental quality and providing much-needed green space.
