Mumbai: BMC Clears Illegal Constructions in Prabhadevi, Plants 200+ Trees in Reclaimed Space
Mumbai, 22 March 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has transformed a previously encroached plot along S. L. Matkar Marg in Prabhadevi by planting over 200 tree saplings, enhancing the greenery and improving the area’s environment. The initiative follows BMC’s ongoing efforts to remove unauthorized constructions and utilize reclaimed spaces for public benefit.
The encroachments along S. L. Matkar Marg had been causing inconvenience to pedestrians. In January 2025, after legal proceedings, BMC undertook an operation to clear 39 unauthorized structures under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Ashwini Joshi and the leadership of Deputy Commissioner (Zone 2) Prashant Sapkale, with the assistance of Gee Dakshin Division Assistant Commissioner Mridula Ande and departmental officers.
Following the clearance, the road was widened, and the newly available space was utilized for tree plantation in collaboration with BMC’s Horticulture Department. The saplings planted include eco-friendly and ornamental species such as betel nut, areca palm, dracaena, musanda, pedilanthus, tabernamontana, acalypha, and lantana. According to the Horticulture Department, areca palm trees help absorb air pollutants, while other species attract butterflies, further enhancing the local ecosystem.
In addition to the tree plantation, a two-meter-wide concrete footpath was constructed along S. L. Matkar Marg, providing a safer and more spacious walkway for pedestrians. The newly planted greenery now lines the footpath, offering a pleasant walking experience and contributing to environmental preservation in the area.
