These trees, aged over fifty years, were meticulously prepared for relocation through a two-month process of pruning, chemical treatment, and root care. The trees from the construction site of platform number 24 have been replanted.
Replantation is not as simple and “is a complex transplantation operation requiring specialized equipment and expertise,” Eastern Railways CPRO Kaushik Mitra told The Indian Express. “It requires proper thinking, planning, manpower, equipment and dedication,” he said.
With the help of a 25-ton crane, the trees were carefully uprooted, transported, and replanted in enriched soil. This process took approximately ten hours to complete, said officials.
Emphasizing the railway’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Divisional Railway Manager Sanjeev Kumar said that this was the first and only such large-scale tree transplantation project in the Howrah Division. These trees are invaluable for improving air and water quality, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change, he said.
Stating that this is the first time seven trees were transplanted together, Kumar said, “Environmental protection is possible only by planting trees and a tree planted today will provide oxygen to many future generations.”
As per sources, this is the first time that Eastern Railways have replanted the uprooted trees. By prioritizing the preservation of these ecological giants, Eastern Railway has set a commendable example of balancing development with environmental stewardship.