The Bombay High Court has permitted the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to remove 34 non-mangrove trees to make way for Metro Line 6, calling the project one of significant public importance. The decision clears a key hurdle for the construction of metro piers at Village Kanjur in Kurla, part of the 15.3-km corridor connecting Swami Samarth Nagar in Andheri with Vikhroli on the Eastern Express Highway.
Metro Line 6, first approved by the state government in 2017, has been billed as a vital link in Mumbai’s expanding metro network. Once operational, it is expected to carry more than 72,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Planners estimate that the line will cut travel time by up to 55 minutes, ease road congestion by up to 50%, and substantially reduce accident risks caused by overcrowded suburban trains. Officials argued before the court that the felling of the 34 trees was unavoidable for pier construction. They emphasised that the alignment had already been revised to limit ecological impact, and that extensive permissions had been secured from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The court noted that all statutory requirements had been met before granting approval.
From an environmental standpoint, the project’s execution in a sensitive zone has been carefully monitored. The corridor passes through mangrove forests and coastal regulation zones (CRZ-I and II), which necessitated multiple levels of clearance. Experts pointed out that while tree loss is inevitable in large urban projects, the number here is relatively minimal, and compensatory afforestation measures have been proposed. Metro Line 6 is being positioned as an affordable, eco-conscious solution to Mumbai’s overburdened transport system. With its reliance on electric-powered coaches, the line promises lower emissions compared with road transport, aligning with the city’s larger sustainability and net-zero aspirations. Officials said that energy efficiency, air-conditioned travel, and commuter safety are central to the design.
Transport experts believe the corridor will not only improve connectivity between Mumbai’s western and eastern suburbs but also reshape the city’s mobility landscape. By offering commuters a faster, cleaner, and safer alternative, it is expected to attract a significant modal shift away from private vehicles, thereby improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions in the long term. While tree cutting for infrastructure projects often invites public scrutiny, the court’s ruling has underscored the balance between ecological preservation and the pressing demand for urban mobility solutions. The line, once operational, could become a benchmark for sustainable urban transit in India’s financial capital.
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