Archive · 7 Jan 2026
Bombay HC Allows Mangrove Felling for Coastal Road
The Bombay High Court has allowed the cutting down of 45,675 mangrove trees for a new coastal road between Versova and Bhayandar.
The court said that mangroves are important because they protect the coast from erosion and flooding.
However, the court allowed this because the BMC promised to plant three times as many mangroves elsewhere and take care of them.
The new road is expected to make travel faster and reduce pollution.
The court also said that the BMC must report every year for the next ten years to make sure they are keeping their promises.
If they don't, the court can take action against them.
Bombay High Court approved the felling of 45,675 mangroves for the Versova–Bhayandar coastal road project.
Mangroves act as natural buffers against coastal erosion, tidal surges, and flooding, and have ecological significance in Mumbai and Thane.
The BMC must plant and maintain 1,37,025 mangrove trees as compensation and submit annual reports for ten years.
The coastal road project is expected to decongest major roads, reduce travel time, and lower CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
The court emphasized that sustainable development is a part of the right to life under the Constitution and that it will not substitute its own assessment for that of statutory bodies.
- Who
- Bombay High Court, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
- What
- Approval for felling of 45,675 mangroves for Versova–Bhayandar coastal road project
- When
- December 12, 2023 (approval), detailed verdict available on Tuesday (date not specified)
- Where
- Mumbai, Thane, Palghar district
- Why
- For the construction of a 26.32-kilometres long coastal road to decongest major roads and reduce travel time
- Mangroves to be felled
- 45,675
- Compensatory plantation
- 1,37,025 mangrove trees
- Project cost
- Rs 18,263 crore
- Project completion deadline
- March 2029
- Expected travel time reduction
- 18 minutes instead of 120 minutes
- Expected CO2 emission reduction
- 146.86 lakh tonnes
- Expected fuel consumption reduction
- 7.82 lakh kg