Marigold, ixora flowers to beautify stretches for G20

Two flowering species - the bright yellow marigold and the crescent-red ixora - will be used to beautify several key stretches from the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport to Rajghat as part of preparation for the G20 Summit, officials in the forest and wildlife department said.

A total of 130,000 saplings will be procured for the two flowering species, with plantation to be done primarily along Sardar Patel Marg and Rajghat - two locations dignitaries will be visiting and passing through during the summit to held in Capital during the second week of September. In addition to these flowers, around 50,000 golden duranta hedges are also being procured to create uniform greenery on footpaths on both sides of the roads.

"We have identified these two flowers in particular. Rajghat already has a lot of ixora plants and more will be added on the stretches leading up to Rajghat. The aim is to cover roadside areas that fall under the department, which include parts of the Ridge and deemed forests as well," said a senior forest official, who requested anonymity.