Mangaluru: The Flower City Trust, in association with Mangaluru City Corporation, Karnataka Forest department, Credai, Mohiudeen Wood and Kedium Plywood, launched the Flower City campaign in Mangaluru by planting the Red Mayflower saplings at Mangaluru Airport Road near KPT here on Sunday.

Mangaluru Mayor Kavitha Sanil inaugurated the campaign by planting a Mayflower sapling in front of Government ITI at Kadri.

Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner B A Nazir said the campaign is also a part of the pan city programme under the Smart City project.

Honorary Secretary of Trust, Shanawaz, said that the main objective of the campaign is to make Mangaluru a flower city.  The Mayflower saplings will bear flowers in four years and it will add to the beauty of the city. The trees will be maintained properly, he said and added that contract is awarded to a separate agency to water the trees and to carry out pruning.

During the first phase of the plantation programme, saplings will be planted from KPT Circle to Mangalore Airport. Later, the saplings will be planted from Padua High School to KPT and then KPT to Kottara Chowki in the third phase. A total of 2,000 saplings will be planted.

Former Mayor and Mangaluru Flower City Trust member Mahabala Marla, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo, Corporator Roopa D Bangera, RFO Shridhar and Credai Secretary Navin Cardoza among others were present.