Western Railway Ahmedabad Division targets 8 lakh saplings in Gujarat plantation drive
Synopsis
Western Railway's Ahmedabad Division has set a target of planting over 8 lakh saplings across 10 Gujarat locations in a single campaign — with 2 lakh already in the ground at Sanand. Tied to the state's 35-crore-sapling-in-a-day ambition, this is one of the largest railway-led greening efforts in recent memory, blending infrastructure land use with ecological restoration.
Key Takeaways
Western Railway's Ahmedabad Division launched a plantation drive on 12 July targeting over 8 lakh saplings across 10 locations in Gujarat.
More than 2 lakh saplings have already been planted at Sanand in the first phase under the Van Kavach Yojana .
4 lakh saplings are planned for 1.20 lakh square metres of land between Sanand Yard and the Dedicated Freight Corridor line.
The drive spans a diverse mix of 15+ species , including Fountain Grass, Bougainvillaea, Bamboo, Palash, and native Babul.
The campaign is part of Gujarat's Mega Tree Plantation Campaign , which targets 35 crore saplings statewide in a single day .
Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the campaign in his constituency of Gandhinagar .
Western Railway's Ahmedabad Division on Sunday, 12 July launched a large-scale tree plantation drive across 10 railway locations in Gujarat, setting a target of planting more than 8 lakh saplings as part of the state government's statewide 'Mega Tree Plantation' campaign. The initiative is being executed in collaboration with Gujarat's Forest and Environment Department and forms part of a broader push to expand green cover on railway land.
Key Developments
In the first phase, more than 2 lakh saplings have already been planted on railway land at Sanand under the 'Van Kavach Yojana'. A total of 4 lakh saplings are planned for 1.20 lakh square metres of railway land between the Sanand Yard and the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) line, with the remaining saplings to be planted in subsequent phases.
Alongside the Sanand project, 9,000 saplings were planted over 8,400 square metres at Sabarmati, and 1,020 saplings were planted across 2,200 square metres at Ambli Road.
Locations Covered
The plantation campaign spans 10 major sites under the Ahmedabad Division, including Ambli Road–Goraghuma, Charodi–Jakhwada, Ambli Road–Chandlodia, Goraghuma–Sanand, Jakhwada Railway Station, Sanand–Charodi, Sanand Yard–DFC Line, and two sites between Sabarmati and Chandlodia.
What Was Planted
The drive features a diverse mix of species: 75,000 Fountain Grass plants, 51,000 Bougainvillaea, 18,000 Bamboo, 14,000 Tecoma, 12,000 Palash, 6,000 each of Nagod and native Mehendi, 4,000 each of Karanj, Parijat, Kachnar and Amaltas, and 2,000 native Babul saplings.
What Officials Said
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ved Prakash confirmed that the drive is being conducted in close partnership with the state's Forest and Environment Department to promote environmental conservation. Dr Meenal Jani, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), and Ruchi Dave were among the senior officials who jointly participated in the programme alongside railway administration representatives.
'A total of four lakh saplings are planned to be planted on 1.20 lakh square metres of railway land between the Sanand Yard and the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) line. Under the Van Kavach Yojana, two lakh saplings have been planted on available railway land at Sanand,' DRM Ved Prakash said.
Broader Campaign Context
The plantation drive is part of Gujarat's Mega Tree Plantation Campaign, which has set an ambitious statewide target of planting 35 crore saplings in a single day. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah participated in the campaign in his parliamentary constituency of Gandhinagar. The Railway administration and the Forest Department have jointly appealed to citizens to participate and help protect and nurture the newly planted saplings, underscoring the programme's community dimension. Officials noted that the joint initiative is expected to strengthen local ecological conservation while supporting sustainable development goals.
Point of View
Not saplings planted. India's plantation campaigns have a long history of impressive launch-day numbers followed by poor follow-through on maintenance and mortality tracking. The Van Kavach Yojana's focus on a defined land corridor between Sanand Yard and the DFC line is a more accountable model than diffuse drives, but without a public monitoring mechanism, the 8-lakh target risks becoming a one-day headline. The real test will come in the next monsoon season.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Western Railway's Ahmedabad Division tree plantation target?
The Ahmedabad Division has set a target of planting more than 8 lakh saplings across 10 railway locations in Gujarat as part of the state's Mega Tree Plantation Campaign. The drive was launched on 12 July in collaboration with Gujarat's Forest and Environment Department.
What is the Van Kavach Yojana mentioned in the plantation drive?
Van Kavach Yojana is a scheme under which over 2 lakh saplings have already been planted on railway land at Sanand in the first phase. A total of 4 lakh saplings are planned for 1.20 lakh square metres of land between the Sanand Yard and the Dedicated Freight Corridor line.
Which locations are covered under the Ahmedabad Division plantation drive?
The drive covers 10 major sites including Ambli Road–Goraghuma, Charodi–Jakhwada, Ambli Road–Chandlodia, Goraghuma–Sanand, Jakhwada Railway Station, Sanand–Charodi, Sanand Yard–DFC Line, and two sites between Sabarmati and Chandlodia.
What is Gujarat's Mega Tree Plantation Campaign?
It is a statewide initiative by the Gujarat government targeting the plantation of 35 crore saplings in a single day. Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the campaign in his parliamentary constituency of Gandhinagar.
What tree species are being planted in the Western Railway drive?
The drive includes over 15 species: 75,000 Fountain Grass plants, 51,000 Bougainvillaea, 18,000 Bamboo, 14,000 Tecoma, 12,000 Palash, 6,000 each of Nagod and native Mehendi, 4,000 each of Karanj, Parijat, Kachnar and Amaltas, and 2,000 native Babul saplings.
