Mumbai: SC Clears Felling of 1,039 Trees for Goregaon–Mulund Link Road, Orders Strict Compensatory Afforestation

Mumbai, 18th November 2025: In a major boost to the ambitious Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project, the Supreme Court on Monday granted permission to fell 1,039 trees that were obstructing the project alignment. The ruling effectively clears the project’s biggest hurdle and is expected to accelerate its next phases, though it has simultaneously reignited concerns over environmental impact and urban ecological balance.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had informed the court that 1,567 trees lie along the proposed tunnel and connecting corridor, and had sought approval to cut 1,134 of them. Earlier, two months ago, the court had permitted the felling of 95 trees. Acting on BMC’s fresh petition, the bench—headed by Chief Justice Bhushan Gavai and comprising Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria, approved the removal of an additional 1,039 trees on Monday.

Jitendra Pardeshi, Superintendent of Gardens, BMC, confirmed that the court’s approval now paves the way for faster implementation of the cross-city infrastructure link, which will directly connect the Western and Eastern Express Highways and reduce the Mulund–Goregaon commute by nearly an hour.

While granting permission, the Supreme Court imposed stringent conditions for compensatory plantation, directing that all new saplings must be planted on time and strictly monitored. The bench noted that the affidavit submitted by the state government and BMC outlined a detailed plantation plan but warned that any lapse or negligence by officials would invite strict action.

The court also directed officials to conduct an on-ground inspection of the plantation sites inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), and submit a status report on compensatory afforestation undertaken for this and other infrastructure projects, including the Metro. The report must be filed within 12 weeks.

A Project of High Mobility Impact, But Environmental Questions Persist:
The GMLR, which includes a 4.7-km underground tunnel beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, is considered one of Mumbai’s most important east-west connectivity corridors. While the latest clearance is a significant milestone for the project, environmental groups have raised fresh questions about the long-term ecological impact of massive tree loss in a city already struggling with air quality and heat-island effects.