50,000 saplings to breathe new life into Nellore, says Narayana

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Ponguru Narayana on Sunday announced plans to transform his Nellore Assembly constituency into the district’s ‘green lung space’ by planting 50,000 trees.

He reiterated the government’s resolve to develop Nellore as a Smart City but ruled out an Outer Ring Road (ORR) for now, citing financial constraints and the expansion of the Chennai–Kolkata National Highway into a six-lane corridor with flyovers, which would significantly decongest the city.

After planting a sapling, Mr. Narayana said about 2,000 trees—including flowering and fruit-bearing varieties—would be planted at five-metre intervals across every division, inspired by Chandigarh’s high-density plantations to create full canopies and natural shade.

He dismissed the ORR proposal by Nellore Urban Development Authority chairman K. Srinivasulu Reddy as “practically difficult and unnecessary,” noting that Trunk Road traffic had eased after the mini bypass and would improve further with the upgraded highway.

Mr. Narayana also inaugurated the renovated flyover at Atmakur bus stand, recalling that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu laid its foundation stone in 1995.