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The Maharashtra government has authorised the removal of 382 trees for the Eastern Freeway extension from Mulund to Anand Nagar in Thane, following a joint inspection of 1,652 trees along the route. Officials confirmed that 929 trees will remain, while 341 will be transplanted. The project aims to ease long-standing congestion between South Mumbai and Thane and improve access to the Samruddhi Highway. The MMRDA plans to plant around 7,500 new trees as part of compensatory measures. Environmental groups, however, have raised concerns and staged peaceful protests against the loss of green cover.
The Maharashtra government has approved the felling of 382 trees for the Eastern Freeway expansion project that will connect Mulund to Anand Nagar in Thane along the Eastern Express Highway. The decision follows a detailed joint survey conducted by teams from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Their inspection covered 1,652 trees, of which 929 will stay in place, 382 will be cut, and 341 have been identified for transplantation as part of the construction plan. Advertisement
Urban Development Minister Shri Eknath Shinde, in a written reply to the state assembly, shared these figures and noted that the BMC has already held a public hearing to record objections and suggestions from residents. These submissions will be reviewed before final clearances are issued for specific locations. The freeway extension is expected to help reduce travel time between South Mumbai and Thane by around 25-30 minutes, easing consistent traffic build-ups on one of Mumbai's busiest stretches.
Officials have stated that improved road connectivity will also support smoother movement of commercial and industrial traffic and help reduce fuel wastage and vehicular emissions. The extension is expected to strengthen linkages toward the Samruddhi Highway, which has become a major route for long-distance travel and logistics.
To reduce environmental loss, the MMRDA has planned the plantation of around 7,500 new trees, including native species that can adapt well to the region's climate. Despite these measures, some residents and local environmental groups have shown strong concerns.
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