In a bid to enhance citizens’ engagement and promote awareness about greenery, the Tree Authority and Parks Department of Thane have initiated a pioneering project, embedding QR codes on approximately 2000 trees across 21 municipal parks. This initiative aims to provide easy access to comprehensive information about the trees for the city's residents.

The application of QR codes is a part of the 'Innovative Concepts in Gardens' endeavour, allowing citizens to scan the codes using their mobile phones and instantly access tree information in both Marathi and English languages. Deputy Commissioner (Parks), Mithali Sancheti, highlighted that the pilot project has been rolled out under this initiative, emphasizing the dual-language feature catering to diverse audiences.

"We intend to expand this feature across all parks within the municipal limits, following positive responses and feedback received from citizens," stated Deputy Commissioner Sancheti.

The effort aligns with Commissioner Abhijit Bangar's vision to create more citizen-friendly spaces within municipal parks. Recent initiatives, such as establishing nature libraries under the 'Chala Vachuya' campaign, have received enthusiastic responses. Building on this momentum, the implementation of QR codes emerges as another citizen-centric move.

Each tree has been registered, and QR codes have been meticulously curated to include essential details like the tree's name, botanical classification, characteristics, and place of origin. Deputy Commissioner Sancheti ensured that utmost care was taken to affix the QR codes using nylon ropes without causing any harm to the trees.

Accessing information through the QR codes is simple:

- Scan the QR code on your smartphone using a scanner app.

- A link to the Wikipedia website will open upon scanning, providing detailed information about the specific tree.

- The information is available in both Marathi and English languages, covering various aspects of the tree's taxonomy and origins.