The proposed transplantation of trees that locals say are located much outside the project’s actual footprint has sparked new controversy surrounding the redevelopment of the historic Tilak Bridge in Dadar, which is part of Mumbai’s ongoing infrastructure upgrade. To alleviate persistent traffic in one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, the nearly century-old bridge that spans the eastern and western regions of Dadar is being widened from two to three lanes on each side.
However, the project has faced resistance from citizen groups and environmental advocates, who allege procedural opacity and ecological disregard. Notices were affixed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on 7 April to three trees along Lokmanya Tilak Road, stating that the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) had applied for permission to transplant them for the bridge works. Critically, the notices did not include contact details or any mechanism for public objection — a move residents have condemned as a breach of administrative transparency.
According to local activists, the trees are situated almost 100 metres away from the bridge site and sit beside the footpath at Dadar TT circle, not on or near any railway-owned property. “There is no logical or geographic basis for associating these trees with the Tilak Bridge redevelopment,” said a representative of a Dadar citizens’ federation.
In response, an online petition was launched, backed by associations from the F North ward, garnering over 30 formal objections. A letter of protest was also submitted to the BMC’s garden department, highlighting the environmental value of the trees in an area already suffering from heat stress and vehicular pollution.
The lack of clarity over which agency holds responsibility has further eroded public trust. BMC officials have reportedly shifted accountability to the MRIDC, which has remained unavailable for comment. This institutional ambiguity has amplified fears that crucial ecological safeguards are being overlooked in the name of development.
Experts stress the urgency of retaining mature roadside trees in Mumbai, especially in light of worsening air quality and rising urban temperatures. “Even the removal of a single tree should be backed by a transparent ecological impact assessment,” said an environmental policy analyst. Pavement trees serve as essential carbon sinks and natural buffers against the heat island effect, making them critical to the city’s livability.
Despite growing public outcry, there has been no official statement from either the BMC or MRIDC on the issue. Civic ward officials have informally suggested that the tree relocation may still proceed under MRIDC’s mandate, yet no details have been provided regarding the relocation site or survival assurances for the trees.
The Tilak Bridge event draws attention to a persistent conflict in the discussion of urban development in Mumbai: how to strike a balance between expanding infrastructure and protecting the environment. People contend that sustainable development must respect biological boundaries and involve community engagement, even when traffic improvement is still urgently needed. Residents are steadfast in their demand for open governance and green responsibility, even if the official notices are still up and there is no formal settlement in sight.
Source: Urban Acres
