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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
BBMP demands clarifications on controversial tree proposal
BBMP RLDA Cantonment trees public consultation The railway should respect people's opinions and look for an alternative location. Even the Forest Minister of Karnataka spoke about the protection of the 368 trees Vijay Nishant, Member, Bengaluru Biodiversity Management Committee Karnataka Forest Minister With mounting objections from citizens and environmentalists,has formally requestedto review its controversial plan to cut 368The Forest Department of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has asked the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) to reconsider its proposed commercial project at Cantonment railway station, which has faced severe public backlash since its announcement. According to BBMP's Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), RLDA has also been asked to furnish a detailed response for every question and query raised by citizens during themeeting held on May 20.'We have asked higher officials of RLDA to reconsider the project, looking at objections raised by the public. Public sentiment is clearly against the proposed project. BBMP has also recorded the proceedings on May 20 and handed it over to RLDA for a detailed response. A general reply to public concerns will not be admissible,' said BLG Swamy, DCF, got to know about the project when BBMP put out a public notice on April 25, stating RLDA's intention to remove 368 trees for commercial development at the Bangalore Cantonment Railway Colony campus. Following the notice, BBMP was flooded with objections against the RLDA officials informed that the project is to ensure a source of revenue for Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company Limited (K-RIDE). The agency stated that the Bengaluru suburban rail project was approved by the Railway Board with a total cost of Rs 15,767 crore, with a completion period of 6 years. While 20% of this cost is borne by the State government and 20% by the Centre, the remaining 60% is through per RLDA, out of the Railway share of Rs 2,479 crore (20%), Rs 500 crore is through budgetary support and the remaining through the returns of monetisation of land parcels identified in the project tree activists say, after the stormy public consultation held on May 20, RLDA should withdraw the proposal and consider establishing the project at an alternate site.'The railway should respect people's opinions and look for an alternative location. Even the Forest Minister of Karnataka spoke about the protection of the 368 trees proposed to be removed for the project,' said Vijay Nishant, a member of Bengaluru's Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC).Notably, after the public outcry,Eshwar Khandre instructed that action be taken for the protection of the 368 trees on the Cantonment Railway Colony campus proposed to be felled for a commercial project.A letter issued from his office also stated that rules will be framed to bring the request of cutting down more than 50 trees to the notice of the Forest Minister, after obtaining the government's permission.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
360 trees facing axe for railway commercial project near Bengaluru Cantonment station
However, the move has sparked concerns among local residents and environmentalists who fear that large-scale tree loss will further deplete Bengaluru 's already dwindling green cover. The RLDA, a statutory authority under the Ministry of Railways, plans to develop a commercial project on an 8.61-acre land parcel at the Cantonment Railway Colony, strategically located between Cantonment Road and Thimmaiah Road. The project, with a reserve price of Rs 236 crore for a 60-year lease, aims to boost Bengaluru's economy by providing residential apartments and commercial complexes. A separate one-acre parcel is designated for railway colony redevelopment. To facilitate this development, the RLDA has sought permission to remove 368 trees, many of which are heritage species like Peepal, Rubber, and Christmas trees, some over 100 years old. These trees are spread across a large area within the colony premises. In fact, environmentalists are also planning to launch a campaign, 'Save Cantonment Heritage Trees', opposing the felling of these trees. 'Citizens will be encouraged and appealed to lodge their protests by writing to dcfbbmp12@ the email account of the BBMP Forest Wing Chief, and to rldabangalore2022@ the official email account of the Railway Department,' said environment activist Vijay Nishant. Meanwhile, Rajkumar Dugar, convener for Citizens4Citizens forum, suggested that RLDA integrate the greenery into the design plan of the structure. 'I recommended that RLDA incorporate the existing greenery into the design plan of the commercial structure, instead of axing the decades-old trees. Working around the tree will add more value environmentally, similar to the design of Kempegowda International Airport's Terminal 2,' he said. He added, 'RLDA had already damaged saplings planted in 2021, as part of the preparatory work for the commercial structure. We had planted 2,365 saplings of 100 different species in a dense forest format inside the present railway colony. However, most of these saplings now stand damaged overnight for the preparatory work of the commercial building.'
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru's Cantonment project that may axe 368 trees aims to fund suburban rail
Bengaluru: Amidst a furore over a proposal to cut 368 trees on eight acres of land at Cantonment Railway Colony in the heart of the city for commercial activity, the authorities have said the venture is being taken up to fund the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). A public notice from BBMP on April 25 invited objections to the proposed tree felling, leaving many shocked over the silence that surrounded the envisaged development. Sources in the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) said the commercial activity which is expected to fetch a one-time revenue of Rs 300 crore, is largely driven by financial constraints. With the Railways reportedly not in a position to contribute its 20% share for BSRP, RLDA decided to lease out the Cantonment land and channel 80% of the revenue to fund BSRP, the sources said. Texworth Pvt Ltd in collaboration with Bagmane Developers, has won the bid for using the land for 60 years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hollywood Actress Leaks Weight Loss Trick, Gets Fired! nutritiouslivingtips Learn More Undo A senior RLDA official told TOI, "Railways is leasing out the land for commercial development to meet the needs of Bengaluru city and as permitted under local bylaws. While the bid for the land is finalised, the purpose of the use of the land and what kind of development will take place is yet to be finalised. As Cantonment is a very old area, the development is certain to give rise to jobs and boost the economy of the state and country." BBMP to consider objections Meanwhile, objections are pouring in. BBMP's forest department confirmed that they have received a large number of public objections in the first six days of the 10-day window for responses. The local body's deputy conservator of forests BLG Swamy said, "We have limited clarity on what kind of commercial activity has been planned. However, this is just the first round of consultation, and there is a long way to go. The tree expert committee (TEC) has not yet made recommendations on which trees are to be cut or retained. Public objections will be reviewed, and only after proper govt sanctions, the final number of trees to be felled will be determined." —- box Online petition gets 6k signatures An online petition, 'Halt Butchery of 368 Mature Trees at Cantonment Railway Station for Commercial Development', initiated by citizen group Heritage Beku on gathered 6,876 signatures by Wednesday evening. The petition reads, "An autocratic decision has been made to cut down 368 mature trees on this heritage railway land to facilitate a commercial project. Ignorance and misguided priorities saw us lose the signature arched platform at the railway station. This cannot be our fate yet again. The errant free reign of these development projects must be checked. Railways wants to take full control, utterly disregarding Bengaluru's desperate need for greenery and the citizens' pleas for sustainable development. We cannot stand by as more ecological butchery happens before our eyes." ———- quote My friends and I have fond memories of planting in the Cantonment area a few saplings we got from Cubbon Park and Lalbagh 15 years ago and it is disheartening even to think that these trees are going to be cut. We have been sending our objections to BBMP as doing away with nearly 400 trees is not a joke. The more of us write to the authorities, the greater is the probability that they will reconsider this harmful proposal. These trees are a vital part of Bengaluru's already shrinking green cover. Losing them means accelerating the acute water crisis, worsening air quality and ecological imbalance. We have just about a week to send in our objections and save these trees -Alexander James, Cantonment area resident
Time of India
27-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Activists oppose cutting 368 trees for Cantonment Railway project in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: The 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Miss The Top Packaging Trends Of 2024, Enhance Your Brand With Latest Insights (Check Now) Packaging Machines | Search Ads Search Now Undo "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 ( 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.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Residents oppose felling of 368 trees for commercial project at Cantonment Railway Colony
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.
