BMC to chop down 3 trees at Gokhale bridge site, activists fume

The BMC has claimed that Gokhale bridge will be reconstructed by November. File Pic/Nimesh Dave

The Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notification stating that three trees will be cut and two will be replanted to ensure the smooth operation of a construction crane at the site of the reconstruction of Gokhale bridge in Andheri East. According to the notice, there are 10 trees at the spot five of which are being impacted are coming in the way of a crane that will be moved to carry out staging and will be used to launch girders. Civic officials claim four of the trees in question are small.

After receiving permission to cut the trees, in the next phase, assembling and staging will be taken up. "The staging site that is selected will be used for operating cranes. These trees must be removed for the smooth operation of the crane," a BMC official stated. "These trees are not affecting the alignment of the bridge. For girder launching we need to create a solid platform," said a BMC official.

Dhaval Shah, a resident of Andheri West and civic activist, said, "The BMC had planned to complete the first phase of the bridge by May. But, they woke up in June and found out that they need to cut trees. Are they serious about the project? According to the original plan, the first phase was to be completed in May and the entire project was to be completed by October. Later, they said that the entire work would be completed in November. Looking at the overall approach of the BMC, how can we believe their timeline?"

Karan Jotwani, another resident, "Eight months after the bridge was shut, why the sudden realization that trees needed to be axed? Wasn't there any planning? Also is the November deadline still on, given these last-minute surprises?"

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Total no of trees at spot