In a concerted effort to transform the capital from a concrete jungle into a vibrant, pollution-free green city, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ramped up its massive urban plantation drive.
In collaboration with the City Forest Division and the Chandaka (Wildlife) Division, the civic body aims to plant an ambitious 100,000 saplings this year alone.
So far this year, the joint initiative has successfully planted 45,500 saplings across six designated special patches in the city. This aggressive push builds on the momentum of the past two financial years, during which over 66,000 saplings were planted. Official records show that 21,150 saplings were planted across five locations in 2024-25, followed by another 45,850 saplings in 2025-26 under the joint supervision of the City Forest and Chandaka divisions.
To maximize urban forestry in limited spaces, the BMC is heavily prioritizing the Japanese Miyawaki afforestation method. This technique allows for dense plantation, resulting in faster-growing, self-sustaining green belts. Currently, 15 distinct Miyawaki forests have been developed at prominent locations across the city, including the Apeejay School ground in Ghatikia, Nayapalli Haja, Kalinga Nagar K-6, the Kalinga Studio periphery, Hatiasuni, and Prachi Vihar.
The BMC has stated that the greenery campaign will be expanded further in the coming days with the active participation of local citizens, volunteers, and environmentalists to tackle climate change and ensure environmental protection.
Beautifying Road Medians Beyond dedicated forest patches, the BMC is placing a special emphasis on the beautification and greening of road medians to make daily commutes more scenic and environmentally friendly.
Backed by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, the civic body recently completed a major landscaping project along a 2.5-kilometer stretch from Jagamara to the City Women’s College. A total of 3,500 saplings—comprising 1,000 Syzygium and 2,500 Spider plants—have been planted along this median. Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das has appealed to local residents and commuters to cooperate with the municipal corporation in protecting these newly planted saplings and maintaining the city’s aesthetic appeal.
