BMC Tree Committee Approves Cutting 726, Transplanting 1,266 Trees for Coastal Road

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) tree authority has approved a proposal to cut and transplant 1,992 trees for the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, marking a significant step forward in one of the city’s largest ongoing infrastructure developments.

The clearance was granted during a tree committee meeting held on Friday, with officials confirming that 726 trees will be cut, while 1,266 will be transplanted to a designated site in Powai. The decision is part of the preparatory work for the coastal road extension that will connect Versova to Bhayandar in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The project has been divided into six construction packages, and authorities stated that the tree-related permissions were being processed in phases. The latest approval covers the initial phase of tree removal and transplantation required for construction activity to proceed along key stretches of the planned corridor.

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According to officials, the affected green cover is spread across multiple suburban zones, including 815 trees in Malad, 323 in Goregaon, and 321 in the Andheri West and Versova belt. The civic body said transplantation efforts will be undertaken to mitigate environmental impact, although concerns over large-scale tree loss continue to be part of public debate.

The tree clearance does not include mangroves, which are governed separately under environmental regulations. Authorities had earlier secured permission from the Bombay High Court and the state forest department for the removal of approximately 6,000 mangroves required for the project, making the coastal road one of the most environmentally scrutinized infrastructure initiatives in the city.

The Coastal Road Project, designed to improve north-south connectivity in Mumbai and reduce traffic congestion, has repeatedly faced challenges related to environmental clearance and ecological impact assessments. Civic officials maintain that the project balances infrastructure needs with compensatory measures, while environmental groups continue to monitor its long-term impact on the city’s coastal ecosystem.

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