Residents of Hiranandani Gardens in Powai are opposing a proposed Development Plan (DP) road that could cut through a portion of Pramod Mahajan Garden, raising concerns over the potential loss of trees, green cover and the area’s ecological functions.
The proposed road, measuring 13.4 metres in width, has been part of Mumbai’s Development Plan since 2018. However, residents said they became aware of the proposed alignment only recently after officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) garden department visited the site to assess trees that could potentially be affected.
More than 500 residents have submitted representations to the BMC, while over 4,000 people have signed letters opposing the current alignment. Around 35 housing societies in Hiranandani township have also urged the civic body to consider an alternative route.
Residents Question Impact on Green Cover
Approximately eight metres of the proposed road would pass through Pramod Mahajan Garden, while the remaining section would cross an adjoining plot owned by Supreme Infrastructure India Ltd, where a Global Capability Centre is being developed.
Residents have questioned whether the alignment could primarily serve the adjoining commercial project and have sought a route that would avoid the urban forest.
The company itself has raised objections to the proposed alignment. Vikram Sharma, managing director of Supreme Infrastructure India Ltd, said alternatives had been proposed, including shifting the road to another side of the property and examining the possibility of a tunnel.
He said connectivity could be provided without cutting through the forest.
Ecological Concerns Raised
Residents have also highlighted the garden’s role in rainwater absorption and groundwater recharge. Shobha Philip, secretary of Lake Castle, said the natural slope of the area and surrounding hills help rainwater seep into the ground.
Residents fear that reducing vegetation and increasing concrete surfaces could alter natural drainage and potentially increase flooding during intense rainfall.
The garden is also reported to have significant biodiversity, with around 15,000 trees belonging to 105 species, including Indian Oak, Mahogany, Flame of the Forest and Baobab. Birds such as the Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black Drongo and Asian Koel are also found in the area.
BMC Conducts Preliminary Tree Survey
The BMC has carried out an initial assessment of the proposed alignment. The garden department’s preliminary inventory identified around 122 trees within the portion through which the road may pass.
Civic officials, however, have clarified that the survey was undertaken in response to objections from residents and does not mean that construction is imminent. The assessment was intended to determine the potential impact of the proposed road on the garden.
With opposition growing across Hiranandani township, residents are seeking alternative alignments that can address connectivity needs without substantially affecting Powai’s existing green infrastructure.
The dispute highlights the challenge of balancing urban connectivity with the preservation of Mumbai’s increasingly limited green spaces, particularly in established neighbourhoods facing continued development pressure.
Source: Mumbai Live
