Mumbai Metro: HC vacates stay on cutting of trees for Metro III project

The Bombay High Court on Friday lifted its ban on the Mumbai metro from felling trees for its Metro III project between Colaba and Seepz.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjulla Chellur and Justice G S Kulkarni vacated its February 9 order on an undertaking by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd that for every tree that is cut in south Mumbai, another one will be planted at the same spot after the 33-km Line III project is executed. . The trees would be maintained for a period of three years.

“Both sides (environmentalists and developers) need to strike a balance. It cannot be overlooked that once functional, Metro rail 3 would also help for better environment.”

The court had earlier stayed until further orders the cutting of any tree for the construction of Metro III line, between Colaba to Seepz. 5,000 trees will be cut for construction of the underground metro stations.

Nina Verma, a 76-year-old Churchgate resident who resides on Jamshedji Tata road, in her petition, had approached the High Court saying that the metro authorities were trying to cut a fully grown tree outside her residence window. When she tried to stop them it was told to her that …read more