Torrent Group’s charitable division, UNM Foundation, dedicated a newly constructed public garden in Naroda to the residents of Ahmedabad on Wednesday. This marks the 10th public garden to be developed and maintained under the UNM Foundation’s PRATITI initiative in the city.
Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain inaugurated the new garden in the presence of Sudhir Prasad, Executive Director, Torrent Power Limited.
While dedicating the Garden, Prasad said that the Naroda garden is the 10th garden developed, with 3 more currently in progress.
“Gardens developed by the UNM Foundation are designed to be maintained for five years and for an additional five years thereafter, ensuring that the gardens remain in good condition,” Prasad noted.
The Naroda Garden, spanning 6,766 square metres, is located at TP-121, FP-145, near Panacea Residency, in the Naroda Ward of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)’s North Zone.
The inauguration of Naroda Garden was graced by local residents from nearby communities and dignitaries from AMC, including Jatin Patel, Deputy Mayor; Devang Dani, Chairman of the Standing Committee; Gaurang Prajapati, Leader of Ruling Party; Shital Daga, Chief Whip; Jasubhai Chauhan, Chairman of the Health and Solid Waste Management Committee; and Jayeshbhai Trivedi, Chairman of the Recreation, Cultural and Heritage Committee, along with other senior officials from AMC and the UNM Foundation.
This event marks another significant achievement in the UNM Foundation’s ongoing efforts to improve urban green spaces for the residents of Ahmedabad.
Garden’s Amenities
The Garden consists of a range of facilities and amenities designed to enhance visitors’ experience. The entrance features a large gate with a wheelchair-accessible ramp, ensuring ease of access for all. Outside the park, there is a comfortable seating plaza where visitors can relax and unwind.
Modern seating options are available throughout the garden, including concrete-terrazzo and metallic benches. For those who enjoy walking or jogging, the garden offers a 750-metre Charu pathway with fire brick curbing, which enhances the overall experience. Children can benefit from a dedicated play area equipped with safe and engaging play structures. Fitness enthusiasts will find an open gym well-suited to their needs.
The garden is well-lit to accommodate evening and night-time visitors, and it features a secure peripheral compound wall with A1 fencing for added safety. Essential infrastructure includes a borewell, an underground water tank, and a utility room. Additionally, a recharge well has been installed to support sustainable water management.
The garden is home to approximately 80 trees of 22 different species, which contribute to higher oxygen generation and effective dust particle absorption.
Furthermore, over 33,000 shrubs, bamboo, and grasses from 73 species help to regulate surface temperature and create a cooling microclimate. A portion of the garden has been developed using the Miyawaki plantation method, adding to its environmental benefits.
The UNM Foundation’s PRATITI initiative has resulted in the renovation, development and maintenance of 10 public parks spanning 1,05,630 sq metres in Ahmedabad. Furthermore, two gardens totalling 80,000 sq metres are presently underway in Ahmedabad.
The preservation of nature in urban areas is a top priority for the UNM Foundation. It maintains over 3.47 lakh sq meters of green space in 13 gardens spread among the cities of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, and Daman as part of the PRATITI project. Currently, four gardens totalling 1.15 lakh square meters are being created in Ahmedabad and Surat.
The UNM Foundation, named after UN Mehta, the founder of the Torrent Group, is the charitable arm of the Mehta Family. The Foundation engages in philanthropic activities, focusing on community healthcare, education and knowledge enhancement, arts and culture, and ecology.
Through its Community Healthcare programme, the REACH initiative addresses the healthcare and nutritional needs of over 150,000 children across more than 1,600 villages. The Education and Knowledge Enhancement efforts are centred on the Shikshasetu initiative, which supports the learning needs and infrastructure of schoolchildren, benefiting over 15,000 students from 45 schools in over 40 villages every year.
Additionally, the Foundation promotes arts and culture with initiatives such as Abhivyakti—a City Arts Project—that offers a platform to emerging artists in visual arts, theatre, dance, and music.
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