Japanese touch puts Thiru Vi Ka Park on its way to recovery

Thiru Vi Ka Park, one of the city’s prominent green lungs which was destroyed by CMRL to construct a metro station a few years ago, received a Japanese touch in its restoration.

The famous “Miyawaki method” of reconstituting a forest using indigenous trees, named after renowned nonagenarian Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, has been implemented at Thiru Vi Ka Park. About 1,250 saplings have been planted at the four corners of Thiru Vi Ka Park.

The man-made method of afforestation utilises only a tenth of the land area equivalent to forest compared to conventional method. CMRL intends to preserve, restore and transplant most of existing trees alongside the 45 varieties of indigenous species being grown on 432sqm using the Miyawaki method in the park.

The CMRL had earlier experimented the Japanese afforestation method at its administration building in Koyambedu. The park comprising 5,000 plants would sit atop the underground station which would have a Passenger Amenities Centre with a basement each on the east and west side of the existing station.

The CMRML has proposed to restore the fountain, jogging track, children’s play area, vertical landscape, yoga pavilion, reading and meditation zones, which were present before metro took over the park.

Arasu, Neem, Naval, Neer Maruthu, Mango, Pomegranate, Athi, Vilvam, Pungan, Ezhilai Palai, Stekuliya, Malai Vembu, Sarakondrai, Azhoka, Jaikiranda, Rose Wood, Poovarasu, Arali, Magizham, Nelli, Teak, Maruthani, Punnai, Pavalamalli, Eluppai, Nigh Jasmine and Mantharai