Select state highway stretches passing through the Tiruchi Forest Circle are set to be transformed with avenue plantations of native tree species under a joint initiative of the highways and forest departments. The project, funded by the State Highways Department, will be implemented through the Green Tamil Nadu Mission with the twin objectives of increasing green cover and reducing air pollution along major road corridors.

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has been tasked with raising and planting tall native tree seedlings along the identified highway stretches. Once the list of selected roads is received from the highways department, joint field inspections will be conducted by officials from both departments before execution begins.

The plantation programme is scheduled to be implemented during the 2026–27 financial year across forest divisions in Pudukottai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchi, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Tiruchi Forest Circle. Targets for raising seedlings have been fixed individually for each division by the Green Tamil Nadu Mission.

Under the plan, a total of 110,000 native tree seedlings will be raised across the Tiruchi Forest Circle. Pudukottai and Thanjavur divisions have been assigned targets of 22,000 seedlings each, while the remaining divisions will raise 11,000 seedlings each. Forest Department officials said nursery activities would begin shortly, with plantation work to be carried out during 2026–27.

In Perambalur district, seedlings will be raised at the high-tech nursery established under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission. In Pudukottai district, Forest Department nurseries at Pudukottai, Tirumayam, Keeranur and Aranthangi will be used for raising saplings. Species selected for the project include native varieties such as naaval, pungan, vembu, tamarind and neermarudhu.

After planting, the Forest Department will maintain the seedlings for a period of three years to ensure survival along the roadsides. Officials said the initiative is aimed at significantly reducing pollution from vehicular emissions while improving overall air quality along state highways.

Separately, a similar plantation programme is already under way along select national highway stretches within the Tiruchi Forest Circle, with funding support from the National Highways Authority of India.