For most cities, a landscaped tree cover on roads is good enough. But civic guardian Jusco is thinking beyond that for Jamshedpur's newly widened arteries that are likely to be open for the public from Founder's Day, March 3.

Plants that have the ability to absorb dust and pollutants and those whose leaves won't be tasty for stray cattle are being planned for medians of Tinplate-Baridih Road, the stretch between Voltas House in Bistupur to Tata Steel power house 3 gates in Jugsalai, between Gopal Maidan in Bistupur to Adityapur bridge and from the district collectorate in Sakchi to Mango bridge.

Ornamental and flowering plants chosen for their ability to absorb pollutants, add beauty to the landscape, clearly demarcate roads and resist cattle include weeping fig or Ficus benjamina and another plant of the same genus, Ficus blackiana. Both have a single trunk and a spreading canopy.

These apart, Jusco is also planting trees of the palm family and nerium oleander, an evergreen shrub with bright flowers, on the medians of these revamped roads.

"Planting trees on widened road medians is a crucial part of our plans to increase green cover in our industrial city," said Jusco spokesperson Rajesh Rajan.

"Our horticultural wing has decided to plant more ficus varieties of trees, nerium oleander and palm variants aimed to reduce pollution, enhance the beauty of the landscape and keep off stray cattle."

Horticultural experts in Jusco revealed why Ficus benjamina and Ficus blackiana were being preferred.

"These two plants have thick and dense foliage of plants that are better suited to absorb pollutants and dust from vehicles. They are also known to absorb poisonous gases such as formaldehyde. Ficus plants also tolerate a wide variety of climatic conditions and don't need much watering," said a horticulture department official.

He added why palm and nerium oleander were also being chosen for busy streets.

"Palm leaves act as good absorbers of pollutants and deterrents for grazing cattle as leaves are grown at a good height. This apart, they enhance the beauty of the urbanscape and don't require much maintenance," he said.

On nerium oleander, he said the densely branched plant did not need much watering. "The easy maintenance apart, with its bright, eye-catching flowers and bitter leaves, the nerium oleander is one of the most ideal plants for roads," said Jusco's horticulture expert, adding the plants so far were doing well.

Earlier, Jusco used to primarily plant bougainvillea and yellow oleander, both spreading shrubs that are hardy, drought-resistant and tend to flower round the year, but stray cattle did come to the medians to munch on their leaves. Cattle suddenly straying on busy roads to munch on leaves on medians of busy roads are also a mishap threat.

Can you suggest more varieties of plants that Jusco can use on medians? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com