October 25, 2025: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has secured approval from the Tree Authority to cut 320 trees and transplant 386 others for an infrastructure project along the Vikhroli-Ghatkopar corridor. To mitigate environmental impact, MMRDA will plant 4,175 new trees, including native and pollution-resistant species, to help preserve Mumbai’s green cover and biodiversity.
Officials said that during the planning phase, efforts were made to minimize tree loss. The project alignment was adjusted to save 127 Pink Trumpet trees, known for their pink blossoms, and 949 existing trees will remain untouched. The transplantation process will follow scientific methods such as root-ball preservation, soil stabilization, and post-transplant monitoring to improve survival rates.
Despite these steps, residents and environmentalists have voiced concerns. Locals from Vikhroli and Ghatkopar have urged authorities to further realign the project to save mature trees, arguing that saplings cannot immediately compensate for the loss of older trees. Environmental groups have also questioned whether compensatory plantations can match the ecological value of mature trees that provide shade, purify air, and support urban wildlife.
MMRDA officials emphasized that development and environmental protection can go hand in hand. They stated that compensatory planting and careful transplantation form part of a broader strategy to balance urban growth with green conservation. Similar debates in previous infrastructure projects across Mumbai have led to stronger environmental oversight and more stringent compensatory plantation norms.
Source: Prop News Time
