Puthukad railway station welcomes you to the hanging garden: V C Ravi

Kochi: Railway stations in the division are no more the “untidy” waiting places but now boost of hanging gardens and LED Plasma aquarium among others.

Drop in at Puthukad railway station and you would find “Hanging Gardens’” welcoming commuters and more importantly the premises being clean and tidy. Thanks to a joint initiative by regular commuters and a group of school students.

“Plastic bottles thrown out from trains are posing a major hurdle to our efforts to keep the station tidy. Then a group of regular commuters came up with the “Hanging Garden” idea where the bottles are collected and their top portion cut out before using them to grow flowering plants. Then they will be tied to a narrow rod using a rope to give a panoramic view,” says Arun Lohithakshan of the Puthukad Passengers Association.

In the first stage, the association members along with students of Nandikara Government School so far planted 100 saplings of ‘Pathumanipuvu’ along the wall of the second platform. The volunteers promise the process would be a continuous one.

“The making of the Hanging Garden will go on and more volunteers have come forward to be part of the initiative. The members of the association, who are daily commuters, will water the plants in the morning and evening while they go to workplace and return. Our cleaning staff will also help in maintaining the ‘garden’,” says V C Ravi, Station Superintendent.