Activists oppose cutting 368 trees for Cantonment Railway project in Bengaluru
Railway Land Development Authority
(RLDA), under the ministry of railways, has sought permission to chop down 368 trees inside the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony, off Vasanth Nagar, to make way for a proposed commercial development project. This move has sparked strong opposition from environmentalists and citizen groups.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issued a public notice on April 25, inviting objections and suggestions from citizens regarding the proposed tree removal. The trees identified for felling have been mapped using GPS coordinates within the railway colony premises.
Following the notice, citizens' groups and environmentalists voiced their outrage, submitting a formal representation to the authorities. "The destruction of 368 mature trees is unacceptable. Mature trees are vital for maintaining air quality, regulating the climate, and mitigating the urban heat island effect. Their removal would worsen pollution, increase temperatures, and severely harm local biodiversity," their letter said.
Citizens also criticised the lack of transparency about the commercial project, saying they couldn't fairly assess the need for tree removal without knowing the full details. They pointed out that the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, demands a strong environmental justification for felling trees — something they say hasn't been adequately demonstrated.
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"Cutting down these trees is against the interests and sentiments of Bengaluru's citizens," the statement added, urging the authorities to rethink the project. Citizens have been given 10 days from the date of the notice to file their objections, either via email, post, or by hand-delivering them to the deputy conservator of forests (DCF), BBMP. A copy of the feedback must also be sent to the RLDA. The BBMP website (www.bbmp.gov.in) has published detailed information about the trees marked for removal.
The proposal has sparked concern at a time when Bengaluru is grappling with shrinking green spaces and rising urban heat. Chiku Agrawal, a BTM Layout resident, said, "The newspaper notification only says the trees are being cut for commercial purposes, but what exactly is being planned? How important is it? There's no transparency from BBMP or the railways. Without clear information, we're naturally opposed to the felling of such a large number of mature trees."
Vinod Jacob of Namma Bengaluru Foundation emphasised the historical and functional significance of the Cantonment area. "Cantonment station is a heritage site that continues to serve the city without major redevelopment. We already have the state-of-the-art Visvesvaraya Terminal at Byappanahalli, just 3km away, which remains underutilised. Rather than constructing commercial complexes at Cantonment station, efforts should focus on improving accessibility and last-mile connectivity for passengers. It is alarming that so many trees are at risk for unnecessary commercial development," he said.
Neither the railways nor BBMP responded to calls and messages from TOI seeking clarity on the proposed project.
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