Mumbaikars Oppose Mangrove Destruction for Versova-Dahisar Coastal Road
The 20-kilometre elevated coastal corridor, estimated to cost Rs 166.21 billion, is expected to divert over 104 hectares of forest land and affect approximately 60,000 mangrove trees. Among these, 9,000 are set to be removed from Charkop, Gorai, and Dahisar — sparking significant opposition from locals and green activists alike.
At a recent meeting in Kandivali West, residents from Charkop Sector 8 and the fishing community voiced their objections. A letter penned by the "Concerned Citizens of Mumbai" was submitted to the BMC, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, and MLA Sanjay Upadhyay, urging the authorities to cancel the project.
The letter emphasised that compensating the loss of mangroves by planting terrestrial trees in Chandrapur, near the Tadoba Tiger Reserve, is neither ecologically appropriate nor locally beneficial. “Replacing flood-buffering mangroves with land trees hundreds of kilometres away cannot mitigate the risk to Mumbai’s vulnerable western suburbs,” the letter stated.
Activists highlighted that Manori Creek, one of Asia’s largest tidal estuaries, plays a critical role in climate resilience, flood protection, and carbon sequestration. They argued that the removal of 136 hectares of mangroves from Charkop would leave the area dangerously exposed to storm surges and rising sea levels.
Critics also labelled the rationale for the project — promoting public transport by adding a bus lane — as flawed and ironic. Instead, they called for enhancements to existing transport systems such as metro rail, local trains, and inland bus services, which would reduce vehicular traffic without endangering the environment.
The growing chorus of voices underscores a key demand: prioritising ecological preservation and climate resilience over infrastructure that benefits only a limited section of the population.