Bhubaneswar: The works department will take up a median plantation drive along the NH-203, also called the Puri Bypass Road, from Palasuni Square to Daya Bridge Square.

The department has received a proposal from a city-based voluntary organisation called Green World for the purpose. It will collaborate with officials in carrying out the drive.

The median now has basic plantation that is left in a bad state in the absence of proper care and maintenance of the plants.

"We have received the proposal from the organisation and initiated the process to execute the plan," said a works department official.

He said that since the road belonged to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), they had been intimated about the plan. "We need to get the NHAI's permission for taking up the plantation drive along the highway. They have been informed about it. Once we get their nod, the plantation will begin."

Green World has proposed to develop greenery from Palasuni Square to Daya Bridge Square near Lingipur on the median. The works department will select the saplings.

The organisation has proposed to develop the greenery and maintain the plantation for five years without any cost to the government.

Palasuni resident Jyotikanta Dash said the Puri Bypass Road was a wide and beautiful stretch that connected Bhubaneswar with Puri, but it had no proper greenery on the median or on the sides of the road.

"Many outsiders use this road to go to Puri. The road should be developed accordingly," said Dash, who runs a shop situated by this road.

Uttara resident Jayanta Pati, 74, said: "This bypass was constructed during the Nabakalebar in 2015. The area used to house good greenery, but the trees were cut for construction of this road."

"The authorities should at least try to reclaim some of the lost greenery if not all," he added.