Vertical gardens to get a fresh lease of life
The Hindu
KMRL has been facing flak for not readying vertical gardens on 200 pillars of the metro as promised
Every sixth pillar in the Kochi Metro corridor will come alive with a tastefully done-up vertical garden, if everything works out as planned, sources in Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) said. The metro agency has been facing considerable flak for tardy upkeep of medians beneath the 25-km metro corridor and for not readying vertical gardens in 200 pillars, as had been promised. KMRL’s assurance on landscaping the medians and vertical gardens atop pillars dates back to 2017, when the metro’s 12-km-long Aluva-Palarivattom stretch was commissioned. But vertical gardens were largely limited to pillars near metro stations alone, while almost all pillars were handed over to an agency for placing illuminated advertisement boards, an initiative to garner revenue from non-ticketing sources.
Indian badminton stars, including Lakshya Sen and P.V. Sindhu, aim for a strong start at the 2026 Malaysia Open.
China aims to strengthen ties with Ireland, emphasising mutual respect and open trade during a meeting between Xi Jinping and Micheal Martin.
Experience the thrilling Suryakiran Aerobatic Team's aerial displays in Hyderabad during Wings India 2026 on January 28-29.
Amit Shah urges urgent action in Gandhinagar as typhoid cases surge due to water pipeline leak, ensuring swift government response.
Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and Anne Frank’s step-sister, passes away at 96, leaving a lasting legacy in education.
In , the grape capital of India and host of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela every 12 years, environmental concerns over a plan to cut 1,800 trees for the proposed Sadhugram project in the historic Tapovan area have sharpened political fault lines ahead of local body elections. The issue has pitted both Sena factions against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. While Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief, and Uddhav Thackeray, chief of the Shiv Sena (UBT), remain political rivals, their parties have found rare common ground in Tapovan, where authorities propose clearing trees across 34 acres to build Sadhugram and a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) hub, as part of a ₹300-crore infrastructure push linked to the pilgrimage.
Kanthapuram urges India to oppose U.S. attacks on sovereign nations and promote Kozhikode as a cultural capital.
Follow The Hindu for live updates on the Supreme Court verdict of Umar Khalid, others in Delhi riots case on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Trump reaffirms desire to annex Greenland for U.S. security, amid tensions with Denmark and military actions in Venezuela.
AI being built into humanoid robots remains a work in progress, with human tele-operators overseeing their operation remotely.
Joe Root's century propels England to 336-6 against Australia in the fifth Ashes Test, despite series lead for the hosts.
Shri Ganga Sabha urges Uttarakhand government to restrict Kumbh Mela area access for non-Hindus before the 2027 Ardh Kumbh.
Ex-Australia cricket star Damien Martyn, 54, awakens from a coma, communicates with loved ones, and shows signs of recovery.