Highway project threatens 11,500 trees, local ecology

A new highway project in Mumbai aims to improve traffic flow but has raised environmental concerns. The six-lane highway will stretch 30 kilometers, connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Port to major highways. However, it is expected to lead to the loss of 11,500 trees and 24 hectares of forest land. The highway will also affect local water bodies and wetlands. The government has acknowledged that the project will require approximately 176 hectares of land. It is projected to cost around ₹4,500 crore and will be developed through a build, operate, and transfer model. Construction is expected to begin soon, with plans for completion in two years. Currently, vehicles take 2-3 hours to navigate from the port to key highways due to heavy congestion. Traffic is expected to increase further with the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport. Officials say the new highway will ease these issues, improving connectivity and benefiting local economies. Environmentalists are raising alarms about the impact on local ecosystems. They argue that destructive practices are already occurring, and the government’s promises of compensatory efforts may not be effective. To address these concerns, the Ministry of Environment has instructed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to create a wildlife conservation plan. NHAI plans to undertake planting efforts to offset forest loss, including the creation of a greenbelt along the highway. Despite these measures, many environmental advocates remain skeptical about the project's impact on the area's ecology.