Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Saturday (June 6, 2026) led a tree-planting drive in Auroville and laid the foundation stone for the PLAZA (Public Life Artisan Zone Auroville).

Mr. Arlekar was accompanied by Jayanti S. Ravi, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation; G. Seetharaman, Officer on Special Duty, Auroville Foundation; and D. Manikandan, Secretary to the Lt. Governor of Puducherry.

According to the press statement, as part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (A Tree in the Name of Mother) campaign, the dignitaries each planted a tree at the entrance of the Auroville Visitor Centre, honouring their own mothers alongside Mother Nature and The Mother (Mirra Alfassa), the founder of Auroville.

Reinforcing the township’s commitment to its “Galaxy Plan” — which features an unprecedented 212 square metres of open green space per resident — it was formally announced that Auroville plans to plant more than 10,000 trees in the near future to further enrich its dense, sustainable urban forest.

Strategically located on the Outer Ring Road, The P.L.A.Z.A. is poised to become a vibrant hub for artisans, economic resilience, and community life. This new development represents a crucial step forward in establishing a self-sustaining township, providing a dedicated space where non-polluting industries, creative arts, and public life can seamlessly intersect.