Thoothukudi Corporation has undertaken a project titled “Pearl city to Greener city,” to improve the city’s liveability standards, green cover and air quality levels.

The project aims to transform Thoothukudi into a greener city, while enhancing the quality of the life of its residents.

As part of the initiative, Thoothukudi Corporation organised a meeting on Tuesday, with the participation of stakeholders, including representatives from forest department, highways department, trade associations, private companies, schools, colleges and non-governmental organisations.

At the meeting, Thoothukudi Corporation Commissioner S. Priyanka explained that the project would help to create essential infrastructure for the city and establish a digital platform to facilitate maintenance and continuous monitoring.

She said that through this platform residents, business communities, commercial establishments, entrepreneurs, education institutions, NGOs and volunteers will be able to share their ideas and suggestions, thereby contributing either individually or collectively as stakeholders in implementing various initiatives.

Speaking to The Hindu about the project, an official from the Thoothukud Corporation said that as part of the initiative, the corporation has involved in developing an mobile application called “My Tuti My Duty,” a unified digital ecosystem, through which people can plan, monitor, follow up and execute all beautification and environmental initiatives of Thoothukudi Corporation.

He added that stakeholders were invited to take up various projects, including development and adoption of centre median, traffic island and parks, which they can maintain for a period of three to five years. This initiative aims to improve the city’s green spaces and beautify public areas.

He noted that the corporation is also planning to install permanent frames in public spaces for banner display, allowing the public to pay a nominal rent to the corporation to display banners for a specified period. This is intended to reduce the installation of flex boards along the roadsides, thereby improving safety for motorists and pedestrians and enhancing the city’s overall aesthetics.

Highlighting that the Thoothukudi’s green cover has been improved from single digit to over 20% in the last 10 years, he stressed that further enhancement of green cover in the city would improve the city’s air quality standards.