Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, 12 July inaugurated 101 Oxygen Parks across Ahmedabad and unveiled a new Heritage Park along the Sabarmati River, as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) deepened its green infrastructure push under the 'Green Lok Sabha Campaign' and the Centre's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative. The simultaneous launch of the parks marks one of the largest single-day urban greening drives in the city's recent history.

Shah's Call for a Mass Movement

Addressing the gathering, Shah urged citizens to mark personal milestones — a mother's birthday, an auspicious occasion, or a guru's remembrance — by planting a tree. 'Every person should plant a tree in the name of their mother and can also plant one in the name of their guru,' he said, calling for Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam to grow into a nationwide public initiative rooted in cultural sentiment rather than policy obligation.

The appeal is part of a broader effort to shift tree-plantation campaigns from government-led targets to citizen-driven habits — a framing that mirrors Prime Minister Narendra Modi's original vision for the environmental drive.

Scale and Science Behind the Oxygen Parks

According to AMC, the 101 Oxygen Parks inaugurated on Sunday were developed using scientific planning principles, with native tree species selected after assessing local climate, soil quality, groundwater conditions, and biodiversity needs. Several sites have been built using the Miyawaki method and dense plantation techniques, designed to accelerate tree growth, maximise carbon dioxide absorption, and sustain local ecosystems — including birds, bees, and butterflies, officials said.

With the latest additions, the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency now has a network of 73 Oxygen Parks, comprising 12 existing garden-cum-oxygen parks and 61 newly developed Oxygen Parks and urban forests. Detailed information about all parks has been made available on the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha website.

Separately, AMC announced that more than 1.25 crore saplings are scheduled to be planted simultaneously on 12 July as part of an expanded citywide plantation drive.

Green Cover Gains in Gandhinagar Constituency

The Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency has recorded an estimated 11.25 per cent increase in tree density through sustained plantation drives and public awareness programmes under the 'Hariyali Lok Sabha Abhiyan', according to AMC. The civic body described this increase as contributing to cleaner air, a healthier urban environment, and a more sustainable future for the city.

Notably, Ahmedabad has faced persistent air quality challenges, making urban greening a practical public health priority alongside its environmental symbolism.

Heritage Park: Ahmedabad's History in One Space

Shah also inaugurated the Heritage Park, developed under a public-private partnership between AMC and Torrent's UNM Foundation. Spanning 20,000 square metres between Nehru Bridge and Vivekananda Bridge along the Sabarmati River, the park presents the city's evolution through five themed sections.

These cover Ahmedabad's historical dynasties, urban expansion, the Royal Axis formed by Jama Masjid, Teen Darwaza, and Bhadra Fort, the legacy of Mata Ni Pachedi artisans, and the area's historic circus grounds. AMC said the park is designed to complement Ahmedabad's standing as India's first UNESCO World Heritage City, bringing together history, culture, and urban evolution in a single accessible public space.

What Comes Next

With 1.25 crore saplings set to go into the ground and a growing network of scientifically designed urban forests, AMC's green push will be watched for long-term survival rates — a metric that has historically determined whether plantation drives translate into lasting green cover or remain headline numbers. The Heritage Park, meanwhile, is expected to become a key cultural and tourism node along the Sabarmati riverfront.