Mumbai's Coastal Road North sparks outrage as 9,000 mangroves face permanent removal

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started cutting mangroves for the Coastal Road North project. Over 45,000 mangroves across 103.65 hectares will be affected by the scheme. Of these, 9,000 will be permanently removed, while the rest will be replanted after four years. The Coastal Road North project spans 26.3 km and is divided into six packages. Its estimated cost is Rs 22,000 crore. The BMC has already cleared 60% of the mangroves within the marked boundary in Charkop Sector 8.

The BMC’s Tree Authority has also approved the cutting of around 1,900 trees for the project. However, tree cutting has not yet begun. Local residents, including activist Mili Shetty, have raised concerns about the environmental impact. Shetty argues that the removal of mangroves could disrupt the natural ecosystem and lead to flooding in residential areas. She also questions the lack of hydrological studies and mitigation measures to prevent potential waterlogging.

Currently, the mangrove removal is limited to peripheral areas. Yet, locals fear it will eventually destroy the natural floodplain, allowing rainwater to flow into homes. The BMC continues with mangrove removal as part of the Coastal Road North project. Around 9,000 mangroves will not be replaced, while the remaining will be replanted in four years. Concerns remain about the project’s impact on flooding and the local ecosystem.