Supreme Court Greenlights Versova-Bhayander Road Amid Mangrove Concerns

The Supreme Court has upheld a Bombay High Court order allowing the cutting of over 45,000 mangroves for the Versova-Bhayander road project in North Mumbai. This decision, announced on Friday, comes as a relief to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which argued the road will significantly reduce congestion on the western highway.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi emphasized the project's public benefits but stipulated that the BMC submit annual reports to the high court detailing efforts in compensatory afforestation and mangrove restoration. The road project, despite its environmental cost, promises improved traffic flow for the local populace.

Challenges to the project came from Vanashakti, an NGO represented by Senior Advocate Chander Uday Singh, who cited satellite images as evidence of prior afforestation claims. However, BMC's Solicitor General Tushar Mehta refuted these claims, stressing the road's necessity. Estimated at over Rs 20,000 crore, the project will span 103 hectares, affecting approximately 60,000 mangroves, with 9,000 to be permanently cut.