more-in The Chennai Corporation is set to develop vertical gardens in congested neighbourhoods, utilising existing civic infrastructure for increasing greenery. The Bridges department of the civic body will develop the first vertical garden around piers of the bridge on G.N. Chetty Road in T.Nagar. “The vertical garden will cover two wards in T.Nagar and Ward 117 and Ward 136 in Teynampet and Kodambakkam zones. The facility is located within the Area Based Development of Smart City Project,” said an official. The civic body will tap the Smart City Project Fund for the project. According to corporation officials, the bridge on G.N. Chetty Road was constructed in 2009. “Commercial activity is increasing in the area. This is near Pondy Bazaar, with star hotels in the vicinity. But land for greenery is limited. So, vertical gardens may reduce the carbon footprint,” said an official. “Many commuters are using the bridge and the road beneath. The facility has 11 spans with 20 piers. A vertical garden may be provided around the piers to beautify the grade separator, to utilise the space around the piers effectively and to prevent defacing of piers,” said an official. Carbon footprint Vertical gardens across the city are expected to help reduce the carbon footprint of civic infrastructure by filtering pollutants and carbon dioxide in the air. “The vertical gardens will benefit those living nearby and improve the quality of air. Development of a vertical garden beneath grade separators is being followed in major cities all over the world and in cities like Bengaluru too,’ the official added. The vertical garden will be created using a separate steel frame erected around the piers without affecting the main structures. Agencies experienced in providing vertical gardens in private properties like star hotels and IT parks have been roped in. Approximate cost The methodology was studied based on the structural elements and type of plants. The approximate rate for developing vertical garden works out to ?750 per sq.ft. The area available for developing vertical garden around piers on G.N. Chetty Road bridge is 3,760 sq.ft. The approximate cost works out to ?28.2 lakh. Borewells, pump room, storage tank, sump, water supply arrangement and electricity supply may cost around ?3.8 lakh. The agency creating the vertical garden has to maintain it for three months. After that, the civic body will spend approximately ?30,000 per month for maintaining the garden, which includes watering, pruning and applying manure. After the project on G.N. Chetty Road, vertical gardens will come up in all commercial neighbourhoods of the city, officials said.

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