The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is set to roll out an extensive beautification drive across Lutyens’ Delhi, with plans to plant over 2.6 lakh tulip bulbs beginning December 27.
Announcing the initiative on Thursday, NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the programme is aimed at enhancing the city’s visual appeal while also contributing to pollution control. He said a total of 5.17 lakh imported Dutch tulip bulbs have arrived this season, of which 3.25 lakh have been allotted to the NDMC and 1.92 lakh to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
In addition, the NDMC will plant 15,000 tulip bulbs preserved at the Tulip House conservation centre in Lodhi Garden. Another 20,700 bulbs sourced from the CSIR–Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) in Palampur will also be planted, Chahal said.
This year’s programme will place special emphasis on major religious sites within the NDMC area. Iconic locations such as Birla Mandir, Hanuman Mandir and Bangla Sahib Gurudwara will be adorned with colourful tulip displays, using a mix of ground plantations and potted arrangements.
Chahal also outlined the steady increase in tulip procurement over the years, noting that the NDMC purchased 62,800 bulbs in 2021–22, 1.40 lakh in 2022–23, 2 lakh in 2023–24 and 3.25 lakh in 2024–25.
Beyond religious sites, the council will develop themed floral displays in public gardens and roundabouts, highlighting messages such as “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, “One Nation One Election” and “Viksit Bharat”. Key plantation areas include Shanti Path, Central Park in Connaught Place, Lodhi Garden and zones around the Vice President’s House.
Explaining the technical aspects, Chahal said tulip bulbs require temperatures of around 5°C for nearly two months to germinate properly. “Considering Indian climatic conditions, the NDMC has selected pre-treated and programmed tulip bulbs that can thrive despite temperature variations,” he said.
The NDMC will also make around one lakh potted tulip plants available for sale to residents. Expected to bloom from February, the tulips will feature a range of colours, including white, yellow, red, pink, orange and purple.
Highlighting the council’s environmental initiatives, Chahal said the NDMC pioneered public tulip plantations in India in 2017–18. He added that between April and October 2025, the council planted over 3,400 trees and nearly 29.9 lakh shrubs, including plantation drives at more than 20 foreign embassies under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign.
