India is struggling with summer heat, pollution, and water scarcity and all these issues can be solved by planting more trees. Many Indians have awakened to this fact and are doing their bit by planting more trees in their personal gardens or watering roadside trees to keep them alive during the blazing summer season.
But can you imagine, a bus blooming with greenery of creepers and bushes, picking up passengers at the bus stop in Bengaluru?
Meet BMTC bus driver Narayanappa K who not only loves to develop a garden but has ensured that the bus he drives is also a sort of mini-garden welcoming his passengers.
‘Mini-Lalbagh’ Created By Narayanappa K
Narayanappa drives the BMTC bus going on route no. 201 from Kaval Bylasandra to Yeswantpur. The 59-year-old driver has developed a mini-garden of creepers and blooming flowers in this bus and the freshness and fragrance of these plants welcome every passenger as he rides the bus.
Narayanappa started maintaining plants on the bus two years ago. On the verge of his retirement, Narayanappa who has been driving a bus for the last 27 years has four pots with creepers placed at the front and four behind the bus.
Inspired By Wife And Children
The man who hails from Mulabagilu taluk in Kolar was inspired by his wife and children to start planting. The proud father of three girls said, “My wife and children love nature and gardening. They have grown many plants around our house. Their passion encouraged me to grow plants in the bus drive every day.”
Narayanappa buys special varieties of plants from the GKVK campus. He is the resident of KR Puram and goes to the depot every day in the morning at 6.30am to water the plants. He does it again after his shift ends.
Happy Passenger Post Photos On Social Media
Most of his passengers are quite happy with the efforts of Narayanappa and appreciate him for all his efforts. Narayanappa says, “Many say they feel pleasant during the bus journey because of the plants. Some even water the plants and call my bus a ‘Mini Lalbagh.”
A tweet by one of his passengers, Puspapreeya about the photos of the bus made Narayanappa instantly hit on social media. Narayanappa hopes that after his retirement other drivers will also take care of the plants the way he is doing now.
He says, “I have already spoken to a newly appointed woman conductor and driver who will take over my route to take care of the plants.”
