Mumbai: More than 400 trees, including 187 mangroves, could be affected by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposed second flyover and cloverleaf interchange under Phase 4 of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project.

The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has recommended the proposal to the Union Environment Ministry for consideration. However, final clearance has not yet been granted.

The proposed interchange includes four free-left passages and would pass through ecologically sensitive coastal regulation zones. These include areas with mangroves and their buffer zones, intertidal stretches and developed coastal areas. Some proposed movements connecting Thane, Airoli, Nahur and Mumbai also fall within sensitive zones.

To compensate for the anticipated loss of green cover, the BMC has proposed afforestation across more than four hectares in Amdi Begde village in Chandrapur district. The project also requires clearance from the authorities overseeing the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, as the proposed works fall within its eco-sensitive zone.

The GMLR is intended to improve east-west connectivity between Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs and ease traffic congestion. Phase 4 includes a second-level flyover spanning about 1,330 metres, at-grade roadworks, a cloverleaf interchange and a 180-metre cable-stayed section.

However, the proposed infrastructure has raised environmental concerns over the potential loss of mangroves and the impact on tidal habitats. The Thane Creek ecosystem supports migratory birds and other wildlife, making the ecological implications particularly significant.