A civic protest is building in Mumbai’s Dadar neighbourhood as residents object to the proposed removal of three trees on Lokmanya Tilak Road for the second phase of the Tilak Bridge expansion.
The initiative, part of a major urban infrastructure upgrade, has stirred opposition from locals citing concerns about environmental degradation and lack of procedural transparency. The redevelopment of the nearly century-old Tilak Bridge, which connects the eastern and western flanks of Dadar, is being undertaken in a phased manner. The project seeks to widen the bridge from two to three lanes on each side to ease vehicular congestion in one of Mumbai’s most densely populated transit corridors. However, the proposed tree transplants, allegedly linked to the project, have provoked resistance from local citizens’ groups who argue that the trees in question fall well outside the project’s actual footprint.
On April 7, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) affixed notices to the three trees along Lokmanya Tilak Road, indicating that the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) had sought permission to transplant them for the purpose of the bridge’s redevelopment. However, no contact details or avenues for public objections were included in the notices — a move that has triggered allegations of administrative opacity. Environmental advocates and citizen representatives claim that the trees are located nearly 100 metres away from the bridge site and sit adjacent to a footpath along the Dadar TT circle — not in proximity to railway property or the bridge approach. “There is no logical or geographic justification for associating these trees with the project,” said a representative from a local citizens’ federation.
In response to the notices, an online petition was launched to challenge the proposed transplantation. As of the last update, the petition had received over 30 formal objections. The initiative is backed by community associations operating under the F North ward of the city. A formal letter of protest was also submitted to the municipal garden department, underscoring that the trees are crucial for mitigating extreme roadside heat in an area plagued by heavy vehicular emissions. Questions have also been raised about the clarity of jurisdiction over the matter. Residents claim that BMC officials have deflected responsibility by citing the railway agency as the project proponent, while MRIDC has remained unavailable for comment. This lack of institutional accountability has deepened public mistrust in the redevelopment process, even as the city advances its infrastructure modernisation drive.
Tree felling and transplantation have become flashpoints in Mumbai’s urban planning discourse, especially given the city’s worsening air quality and heat stress. According to environmental experts, mature trees lining pavements serve as vital carbon sinks and natural shields against the urban heat island effect. “Mumbai cannot afford to lose even a single roadside tree without transparent ecological impact assessments,” said an environmental policy analyst. Despite the public outcry, official response has remained muted. While the BMC has yet to issue a formal clarification, local civic ward staff have verbally communicated that tree relocations may proceed under MRIDC’s railway infrastructure mandate. Meanwhile, no specific replantation sites or survival guarantees have been shared for the affected trees.
The controversy underscores a broader conflict between infrastructure expansion and ecological preservation in Mumbai. While the need for improved traffic circulation is undeniable in a rapidly urbanising city, experts argue that such development must not override local ecological integrity or ignore community consent. With the civic authorities currently non-committal and the notices still displayed on the trees, the fate of the three footpath trees remains uncertain. However, residents appear determined to contest the process, asserting their right to greener public spaces and institutional transparency.
Dadar Resident protest tree removal for bridge project
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