Mounds of earth on Deshratan Marg where the beautification work has begun. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

A walk down the city streets could soon be a visual delight for nature lovers, as the authorities have begun to add a floral touch to upscale areas.

Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL), in association with the environment and forest department, has started landscaping work on the roadside in the VIP areas around the chief minister’s official residence and the Raj Bhavan. In the first phase, work has also begun along Deshratan Marg.

As a part of the project, the forest department would plant hedges, decorative flowers and shrubs. A six-feet-wide jogging track would also be laid and benches provided for joggers.

The project would be funded as part of the BSRDCL’s corporate social responsibility (CSR). Rajeshwar Prasad Singh, deputy general manager (technology), BSRDCL, said: “Every profit-making organisation has to fulfil certain social responsibilities. The schemes under which they do it are referred to as CSR.”

He added: “The BSRDCL has planned to beautify the roads of Patna as a part of its CSR initiative. Funds to the tune of Rs 7 crore have been allotted for the purpose. It would be released to the forests department in phases.”

Patna forest officer Gopal Sharma has been designated the nodal officer for the scheme. “Roads like Circular Road, Hardinge Road, Strand Road and Tailor Road would also be beautified. Later, we would beautify other roads in the New Capital Circle,” he said.