India’s first Oxygen Bird Park, an oasis of greenery and biodiversity, has been inaugurated near Jamtha. Spread across 8 hectares, the park is home to over 8,000 plant species and has been developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost of approximately $1.73 million USD. The park serves as both a bird sanctuary and an eco-tourist destination, attracting travelers to Nagpur, famously known as the “Tiger Capital of India.”
Strategically located at the intersection of the Nagpur-Hyderabad and Mumbai-Kolkata highways, the park boasts natural lakes, fruit-bearing trees, and various facilities like jogging and cycling tracks, an amphitheater, and a food court, offering visitors an immersive ecological experience. The park also includes a 3.1-hectare Miyawaki forest, a dense, fast-growing afforestation method that requires minimal maintenance.
During the inauguration, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized the need to combat pollution and safeguard nature, advocating for a national priority of creating a pollution-free environment. He expressed the importance of tree transplantation during road construction projects, equating tree cutting to a loss of life.
In support of sustainability, the park is equipped with 30 water recharge pits to promote water conservation. It also features a section dedicated to the conservation of endangered plant species, further enhancing its role in preserving biodiversity. Solar panels will be used to illuminate the park, minimizing its carbon footprint.
Gadkari also discussed plans to e-tag newly planted trees to earn carbon credits, with the revenue being reinvested in afforestation efforts. He highlighted the adverse impact of pollution on public health, noting that fossil fuels contribute to 40% of pollution. Efforts to promote biofuels and other green alternatives are underway.
He also shared a lighthearted anecdote involving cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, inviting him to visit the park during a trip to Tadoba. Although certain amenities, like the coffee shop and food court, are still in development, NHAI’s regional chief RP Singh confirmed that the park would be fully operational by 2025. Visitors are already welcome to enjoy the park’s serene and natural environment.
The inauguration was attended by several officials and dignitaries, including MoRTH Secretary Anurag Jain, NHAI Chairperson Santosh Kumar Yadav, and MPs and MLAs like Shyamkumar Barve, Ashish Jaiswal, and Vikas Kumbhare.
