ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE (2+1)

Landscaping railway stations

One important aspect of bio-aesthetic planning is to landscape public places on a priority basis compared to private places. A well-kept and well-planted railway platform gives a visitor or a passerby the first impression about the town. For most of the people living in small towns the station platform is a place for evening recreation or a place for morning walk. The second important consideration why a platform needs to be planted with shade or flowering trees is that these trees offer the passengers a resting place under the hot sun, while waiting for the train.

Besides flowering and foliage trees, the railway authorities can also improve and beautify the platforms with tubs and troughs planted with palms and other attractive plants such as bougainvilleas. Even hanging baskets can be displayed near the booking office or on the pillars of resting sheds and in similar other places. Concrete seats or benches could be constructed around the trunk or under the canopy for the benefit of the commuters.
One more reason why the railway platforms should be beautified with trees is because many more people pass through a railway station compared to those who visit a public park.
Landscaping railway stations with avenues of flowering trees such as Cassia fistula, Cassia nodosa, Peltophorum ferrugineum, Delonix regia, etc. will provide shade to the visitors apart from beautifying the place.

Railways should have their own nurseries at suitable places for raising the plants needed for such landscaping work. The transportation of these trees to the different railway stations will be an easy task for the railways.