This 59-year-old bus driver is on a green drive, maintains a mini garden in his bus
BMTC bus driver Narayanappa is promoting greenery by placing around 14 saplings in his bus. He says, commuters are welcome to water plants if they desire to do so.
What is Bengaluru famous for? Well, there was a time when it was known as the Garden City of India for its lush greenery and clean lakes. However, things are different now. Thanks to rapid urbanisation, in the name of development and to meet the needs of the growing population, there has been a drastic decline in the city’s green cover.
In order to bring back the city’s lost glory, a few citizens and social welfare groups are on a plantation drive, and are working towards lake rejuvenation. And one among them is fifty-nine-year-old Narayanappa K, a driver with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
Working as a bus driver for the past 27 years, Narayanappa has become an inspiration to many by taking the green route. He has planted a mini garden in his BMTC bus (KA07-F-838), which plies between Kaval Bylasandraa and Yeswanthpur in the city.
Mini garden inside the BMTC bus, source NDTV
It all started two-years-ago, in 2017, when Narayanappa bought a few saplings from his salary to keep in his bus to start his green drive. Today, commuters can witness nearly 14 plants placed at the front and the back of the bus, which consists of four pots of creepers and flowers. If the commuters wish, they are free to water the plants from their water bottles, reports Metro Saga.
A resident of KR Puram, Narayanappa waters his plants twice a day - once in the morning around 6:30 am, and second after his shift ends in the night.
Speaking to NDTV, Narayanappa, who is going to retire this year, said,
In our house, my wife and children make new additions to our little garden every now and then. It was they who inspired me to build a mini garden inside the bus. With this move, I want to spread the word about keeping the environment green and healthy. If this small move of mine even inspires one of my daily passengers, it will mean a lot.
His efforts are also appreciated by the commuters who often tweet pictures with the mini plant set up in the bus.
representational image, source Medium
Also read: How to plant a forest in one year: these Karnataka govt school students show the way
Speaking about his mini gardens, Pushpa Preya, a daily commuter, said,
Never had I thought of experiencing a mini-garden inside a bus. It is such a simple way of spreading awareness. Hope there will be more people like Narayanappa in this world, reports NDTV.
Now, Narayanappa hopes that his successor will continue to do the same and inspire others to take up the initiative.
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