Bhayander: Close on the heels of MMRDA’s proposed decision to cut down 12,400 trees for the Metro car-shed project in Mira Bhayandar, the civic corporation now plans to put the axe to nearly 297 trees for the construction of the Dahisar-Bhayander Link Road (DBLR).

According to a public notice issued by MBMC on May 22, approximately 297 trees, located on both private and government land, will be removed—some with their roots—for the development of the elevated corridor. The civic corporation had given a seven-day window to submit objections or suggestions, during which only a limited number of responses were received, MBMC's garden department said.

The DBLR is a major infrastructure project undertaken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and, once operational, will significantly improve connectivity between Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander region. The elevated road will span a total length of five km —1.5 km within Mumbai municipal limits and 3.5 km within Mira Bhayander. The project will have a width of 60 mtr and will cost an estimated Rs 3,000 crore.

Once completed, the elevated corridor is expected to cut travel time between Dahisar (West) and Bhayander (West) to just 10 minutes from the current 45 minutes which shoots to over an hour during heavy traffic.

However, MBMC’s decision has sparked renewed concerns among local residents and environmental activists, who argue that the loss of nearly 300 trees adds to the region’s growing ecological burden.

While authorities maintain that the project is crucial for easing urban congestion, calls for alternative solutions or increased compensatory afforestation continue to gain momentum among activists determined to safeguard the city's green cover.

MMRDA has proposed the axing of over 12,400 trees at Uttan-Dongri to make way for a car-shed for the Metro Line 9 project from Dahisar to Bhayandar (West). MMRDA has proposed shifting the car-shed nearly 10 km away from the last station at Subhash Chandra Bose Ground. Environmental activists had launched a signature campaign to forestall the felling of trees.