Bengaluru: In a major push towards strengthening its green cover, the city Saturday successfully attempted a Guinness World Record by planting 15 lakh indigenous saplings on a single day across multiple locations, marking one of the largest coordinated urban plantation drives ever undertaken in India.Organised by the state govt and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) as part of a mega plantation drive (Bengaluru Urban Ecological Restoration Mission) held on the occasion of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti, the 12-hour campaign aimed at large-scale ecological restoration through native species plantation and development of urban green spaces. The Times of India too was part of the greening initiative.Saplings were planted across key BDA-developed green zones such as Banashankari Stage 6, Kannahalli, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, Shivarama Karanth Layout, Oxygen Tree Parks and Miyawaki forest pockets. Working alongside NGOs Youth For Seva, Youth For Parivarthan, and SmartSoC Hope Foundation, TOI helped bring together more than 200 volunteers, who collectively planted 8,000 saplings.Through this initiative, TOI reinforced its commitment to driving public action beyond awareness, enabling meaningful on-ground impact for a cleaner, greener Bengaluru. The collaboration also highlighted how partnerships between govt agencies, civil society organisations, and citizens can create lasting environmental impact while encouraging community ownership of green spaces.The drive saw massive citizen participation, with thousands of volunteers, including students, RWA members, NGOs, corporate groups, environmental organisations, and govt officials, coming together for the sapling plantation exercise across 243 acres at multiple locations. From as early as 6.30am, volunteers gathered at 279 planting sites and got down to brass tacks.Restoring city’s identityChief minister DK Shivakumar said, “The entire city has come together to plant 15 lakh saplings on Kempegowda’s birth anniversary. By planting and nurturing these trees, we’re taking a step towards restoring Bengaluru’s identity as the Garden City.”BDA chairman NA Haris said: “The successful plantation of 15 lakh indigenous saplings is one of the most significant environmental conservation programmes undertaken by BDA. We’re giving a new direction to urban planning by adopting sustainability at every stage of development. Our mission is to build well-equipped and eco-friendly settlements.”BDA commissioner Major P Manivannan said the successful implementation of a campaign of this magnitude required meticulous planning, coordination with various govt departments, civic organisations, and thousands of volunteers. “BDA formulated a system of scientific planting, selection of indigenous species of saplings, and post-planting management,” he added.To facilitate travel, the civic authority operated free BMTC buses from nearby Metro stations and major bus stops to the plantation sites, besides arranging equipment such as mattocks, trowels, and crowbars. Food points, water kiosks, refreshments, and medical facilities were also provided free of cost to participants.MAR launch & Kempegowda RunAs part of this programme, ‘Kempegowda Run 2026’ was also held in a grand manner. Thousands of runners participated enthusiastically in the 5km and 10km races. The run started and ended at SM Krishna Road, Challaghatta Metro station. Chief minister DK Shivakumar also inaugurated the 11km Major Arterial Road (MAR) connecting Magadi Road and Mysuru Road Saturday.Challenges on rocky landscapeUnlike at the annual forest department drives where pits are pre-dug, volunteers at BDA’s mega plantation drive had to dig them themselves. Rocky terrain and inadequate tools made the task strenuous, with many teams taking considerable time to dig 3ft-deep pits and managing only four or five before tiring. Though BDA later supplied crowbars and other equipment, rising afternoon temperatures forced many volunteers to leave early.Gaps in on-ground guidanceDespite BDA’s plan to create urban forests using the Miyawaki method, deviations were reported at several sites. Inadequate supervision led some volunteers to plant monoculture species, while spacing norms of 2–2.5 metres were often ignored, with saplings placed less than a foot apart. Many saplings had also dried up after being transported the previous day and left without watering in the intense heat.Spot registration chaos & moreSeveral plantation sites in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout saw confusion after spot registration was allegedly closed, leaving walk-in participants unsure about joining the record drive. Volunteers also faced transport difficulties during dispersal, as BMTC buses were not readily available. With Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations drawing crowds nearby, many participants had to walk long distances to reach Metro stations and bus stops.What participants saidPrajwal Acharya | JP Nagar 6th Phase residentMy friend told me about this event and it instantly sounded interesting. Since none of us had done something like this before, we decided to come together as a group, participate, and make it a new experience. It also felt like a good way to spend time together while doing something meaningfulDeepakk Hariharan | Kadubeesanahalli residentI had wanted to take part in an environmental initiative like this for quite some time. When I learned about this plantation drive, I immediately felt it was the right opportunity. It’s not just about planting saplings, but about contributing in a small way to the larger cause of building a greener BengaluruHimanshi Agarwal | Peenya II Stage residentIt was honestly a very productive and refreshing way to start the day. Instead of the usual routine, we were out there planting saplings, being part of something benefitting the environment, and at the same time sharing the experience with friends, which made it even more enjoyable and memorableVarun MR & Ved Viaan | Banashankari residentsWe came to know about this drive through an NGO and wanted to be part of it. Areas like Banashankari need more greenery for the next generation. We also do gardening at home, and seeing so many people participate together was really fascinating. My son was also very interested in planting saplings, so I thought it would be good to show him how to care for the environment from a young ageAnand CL | president, All Karnataka Ex-Servicemen AssociationWe are soldiers, and for us, planting trees is also a form of service — just like protecting the nation, we see it as protecting the future. We are all from Bengaluru, and we are here to serve in whatever way we canAkshith M Tholakapalli | trustee, Youth For ParivarthanLooking at hundreds of people gather for this drive, it showed society coming together for a common cause. This is our chance to save the Garden City, and today’s participation reflects how proactive the younger generation is in bringing about changeBasavaraj Dyamagond | CSR executive, Smartsoc SolutionsBengaluru has changed a lot over the past 10 years. Back in my college days, the temperature rise was not this high, but now we need to pause and act. This initiative is a good step in that direction. It shows that both govt and citizens are concerned about improving Bengaluru’s green coverRaghavendra BS | manager, Karnataka Volunteer Management, Youth for SevaWe focus on environmental initiatives and collaborated with TOI for this drive. We gathered around 625 volunteers, including college students and general participants. We are happy to see growing interest among people to take part and make Bengaluru greener, with the hope of a better future for the city
