Kochi: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd's (KMRL) plan to set up vertical gardens at every sixth Kochi metro pillar and median got a big boost with its signing of a pact with Varkala Municipality.
After the Kochi Corporation turned down its request for compost generated from solid waste, the KMRL has tied up with the Varkala Municipality to provide 1,000 tonnes of waste every year.
"The municipality will also pay Rs 5 for taking 1kg of garbage. We're also in talks with other municipalities so as to meet the annual requirement of 4,500 tonnes of solid waste," said a senior Metro official.
Instead of soil, KMRL is using manure generated after treatment of solid waste.
"A private firm has been identified for the waste treatment process and the manure thereof will be used to grow ornamental and flowering plants along the pillars and medians. The treated waste will be changed every six months. The eco-friendly project has been included in the Centre's Suchitwa Mission," the official said.
The gardens will be actually walls made out of metal frames and cloth that are placed on top of pillars to avoid damage to the concrete structures. The initiative is aimed at reducing pollution while improving the cityscape. "The gardens will be unique in design and structure compared to metros elsewhere," the official said.
