Residents oppose felling of 368 trees for commercial project at Cantonment Railway Colony

The Hindu

27-04-2025

Another 368 trees may be cut to make way for a railway commercial development project in Bengaluru, as the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) has sought permission to clear trees inside the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony at Vasanth Nagar.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued a public notice inviting objections to the proposed felling of 368 trees located inside the colony. The RLDA, under the Ministry of Railways, has sought permission for the removal of trees as part of its 'commercial development project' planned at the site.
According to the notice dated April 25, the trees in question are spread across a large area within the cantonment premises. The details of the tree species and their locations have been uploaded on the BBMP website for public access, a BBMP official said. 'Citizens have been given 10 days from the date of the notice's publication to submit their objections or suggestions either via email, post, or by hand delivery,' the official added.
The move has sparked concerns among local residents who fear that large-scale tree loss would further deplete Bengaluru's already dwindling green cover. 'Cutting down nearly 400 mature trees in the heart of the city for commercial interests is a disaster waiting to happen,' said Rekha Suresh, a long-time resident of Vasanthnagar. 'We are already grappling with poor air quality and extreme heat. This project will only make things worse.'
Under Section 8(3)(vi) of the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, the BBMP is required to invite and consider public objections before allowing any large-scale tree felling. Citizens can send their comments to both the Deputy Conservator of Forests, BBMP, and the JGM/Civil Expert at RLDA, with a copy of any correspondence to be marked to the tree officer.
'The proposed commercial development comes at a time when Bengaluru's green spaces are increasingly being sacrificed for infrastructure and real estate projects. The authorities should explore alternative designs that preserve existing trees rather than opting for complete clearance,' said Anand R., another Vasanthnagar resident.
'We cannot keep chopping down trees and expect the city to remain livable. Development is important, but it should not come at the cost of our environment. The government must reconsider this project or at least drastically minimise the number of trees being removed,' he added.
Meanwhile, Railway officials were contacted but were unavailable for comment on the proposed tree cutting.