166 Trees To Be Removed For Borivali–Virar Rail Expansion

The notice, published on Friday, stated that the civic body plans to approve Western Railway’s (WR) proposal and has invited residents to submit objections within seven days. The affected stretch lies between Bhayandar station and Panju Island under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase IIIA. Trees to be removed include coconut, peepal, almond, nilgiri, ashoka, gulmohar, dates and mango, among others. Several trees identified for transplantation are more than 40 years old.

In September last year, the Bombay High Court permitted the removal of 2,612 mangroves to facilitate the rail project, while directing WR to furnish an undertaking confirming the plantation and maintenance of 7,823 compensatory trees. Work on clearing the mangroves between Dahisar and Mira Road has already begun, along with concurrent land-filling activities.

WR is constructing the two additional rail lines between Borivali and Virar at an estimated cost of Rs21.84 billion. Although the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the project, it has imposed 20 conditions to mitigate environmental impact. The 26-km lines are expected to significantly increase train frequency beyond the western suburbs.

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation is implementing the project, which WR aims to complete by December 2027.