Bengaluru Metro Phase 3 To Impact Fewer Trees Than Feared Earlier
Bengaluru Metro’s Phase 3 expansion is expected to result in significantly less green cover loss than initially estimated, according to new assessments by the city’s metro agency. Officials from Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced that the number of trees impacted by the upcoming 44-kilometre phase has been revised from around 11,000 to approximately 6,800. The updated estimate follows a detailed internal review by the agency’s environment wing, offering some relief to residents and activists concerned about ecological degradation amid rapid infrastructure growth.
While concerns remain, BMRCL clarified that not all identified trees will be felled. Some will be transplanted or pruned based on construction needs and ground-level feasibility. Environmental advocates attending a recent public consultation demanded detailed statistics, including species types, ages, and transplantation sites. In response, officials assured that comprehensive data would be included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, which is in its final stages. They reiterated their intent to balance urban development with environmental responsibility, even as air and noise pollution linked to construction activities remain under scrutiny. The agency pledged a tenfold compensatory plantation policy for each tree removed, with a commitment to plant and maintain saplings within city limits over three years. However, activists have questioned the survival rate of such plantations from earlier phases and called for public access to verification reports.
The demand for transparency also extends to the process of finalising the EIA, which BMRCL says is open to feedback from NGOs and residents before its publication, expected in October. The finalised report will guide future design modifications and regulatory compliance to minimise environmental impact. Phase 3 of the Metro will provide essential connectivity to the congested western stretches of the Outer Ring Road, a region grappling with traffic bottlenecks and pollution. Authorities insist that the new routes will ease pressure on road transport while offering a sustainable mass transit alternative. Yet, the challenge remains to construct this infrastructure without further compromising Bengaluru’s dwindling tree cover and fragile urban ecosystem. Urban planners and environmentalists are urging authorities to embed nature-sensitive design elements into metro planning, such as integrating native tree species, rooftop gardens, and microgreen corridors.
Bengaluru’s development trajectory must now grapple with the twin priorities of mobility and sustainability. As the city expands its public transport network, the long-term ecological footprint of these projects must remain a central consideration. The revised tree loss estimate may indicate progress in aligning infrastructure with environmental concerns, but it is public accountability, community engagement, and ecological foresight that will ultimately define the success of Phase 3—not just the kilometres built, but the green canopy preserved.
