LUCKNOW, June 9 -- Visually impaired students at Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow will now navigate their campus using a unique "Sugandh Path" (fragrance path). This innovative initiative involves planting aromatic plants and flowers along corridors and near key academic buildings, allowing students to identify locations by their distinct fragrances. The university conceived this project to enhance the mobility and independence of its visually impaired students, who often face challenges in locating specific departments, the library, and academic blocks. "This innovative experiment will on one hand increase the sense of companionship with nature among the students and on the other hand will also create the confidence of free movement," said vice chancellor Acharya Sanjay Singh. He inaugurated the "Sugandh Path" on World Environment Day. The aromatic plants and flowers will be unique for every department, library and academic block, helping visually impaired students identify key sites on the university campus, an official said. In the first phase, aromatic plants are being planted along the route connecting the hostel trisection to academic building 1, campus development chairman Prof Avnish Chandra Mishra said. The campus development chairman explained that the first phase focuses on planting near six major buildings, the office, and the library, as well as along connecting pathways. Specific fragrances will mark key buildings: Arabian Jasmine (Bela) near the library, Jasmine (Chameli) at the Engineering Bhavan, Gandharaj (Gardenia jasminoides) at academic building 1, Madhukamini at academic building 2, Manokamini at the administrative building, and Harsingar near the bank. The university plans to extend the "Sugandh Path" to include other buildings in the second phase of the project. A university spokesperson said this large-scale planting of fragrant flowers aims to help visually impaired students understand the layout of the campus by associating scents with specific. "This is an excellent initiative by the university," remarked a visually impaired student. "With this, we will be able to identify the main buildings of the university on the basis of fragrance and will be able to make the journey easier," the student added....