AHMEDABAD: Marking World Environment Day 2025, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) flagship green initiative—‘Mission Four Million Trees’—with a symbolic tree plantation in the city. The campaign, which aims to plant 40 lakh trees across Ahmedabad, has been designed as a mass participation movement to address urban heat, pollution, and ecological imbalance.Inaugurating the initiative, the Chief Minister planted a Sindoor tree sapling in the Chandlodia ward of Ahmedabad, officially commencing the development of a commemorative green zone titled Sindoor Van. This special plantation site will feature 551 Sindoor trees, created in remembrance of civilians who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and in honour of the Indian Army’s response through Operation Sindoor.
As part of the event, the Chief Minister also flagged off a dedicated tableau and 11 “tree chariots,” specially designed vehicles that will carry saplings into communities as part of AMC’s plan to democratise tree plantation efforts. These vehicles are part of a broader effort under the ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ and ‘Mission Four Million Trees’ initiatives. In total, AMC will mobilise 38 such tree chariots to travel across residential areas, offering free tree planting services at the doorsteps of citizens.
To increase public involvement, AMC has also introduced a toll-free number for citizens to register for plantation requests, and integrated the programme with the AMC Seva mobile application. Through these digital and offline touchpoints, the Corporation aims to bring every resident into the fold of the green campaign, especially during the peak monsoon plantation period.
The campaign is part of AMC’s long-term strategy to combat climate change impacts in Ahmedabad. Rising urban temperatures and worsening air quality have prompted municipal bodies to adopt nature-based solutions. The Mission Four Million Trees campaign is expected to contribute not only to temperature regulation and pollution control but also to the creation of shade corridors, biodiversity habitats, and community green spaces.
In line with the theme of environmental awareness, five schoolchildren who emerged winners in an environment-themed drawing competition—organised by AMC’s Air Quality Management Cell—were presented with bicycles by the Chief Minister as a token of encouragement. This segment of the programme highlighted the administration’s commitment to involving the younger generation in sustainability efforts.
AMC’s recent efforts in establishing oxygen parks across different localities have already shown positive results in improving localised air quality and providing recreational spaces for residents. These parks, along with the new tree plantation drive, are envisioned as building blocks for a more climate-resilient Ahmedabad.
The World Environment Day event in Ahmedabad saw participation from a wide range of stakeholders including Mayor Pratibha Jain, Lok Sabha MP Dinesh Makwana, Municipal Commissioner In-charge Rajkumar Beniwal, and MLAs Amit Shah, Harshad Patel, Jitendra Patel, Hasmukh Patel, Amit Thaker, and Kaushik Jain. Also present were Deputy Mayor Jatin Patel, Standing Committee Chairman Devang Dani, senior AMC officials, municipal councillors, representatives from Samast Vaishnav Vanik Parivar (SVVP), students, and local residents.
