The international airport of Shamshabad, India, is set to feature bowl-shaped rain gardens along 2,000 acres abutting Asia's longest runway. The rain garden will capture storm water runoff and encourage groundwater recharge.
The National Geographical Research Institute (NGRI) developed nine model rain gardens on its Uppal, India, campus. Impressed with the results, the GMR group has asked NGRI officials to replicate the rain garden concept at the new international airport. "At their request, NGRI and Vimta Labs jointly conducted a survey last year and submitted a report to GMR officials on areas suitable for development of rain gardens," said Gurunatha Rao, NGRI deputy director, environmental hydrology group. "The GMR officials gave a green signal for implementing it."
The rain gardens will be developed in phases, and the installation is expected to be completed within the next five years, he added. Rain gardens will pop up at the airport terminal building, airfield pavements and air traffic control tower.
Source: The Times of India
