At least 199 trees will be removed to make way for the much-awaited rail over bridges (ROBs) at Mahalaxmi station. The BMC has awarded a tender for the construction of these bridges just before the lockdown. The bridges department will plant 450 new trees around Mahalaxmi Racecourse within 15 days of cutting these trees. Along with it, 32 trees will be removed for the construction of the remaining part of Hancock bridge. Both proposals will be discussed in the tree authority (TA) meeting held today.

After a five-year-delay, the work of the bridges at Mahalaxmi station has started. The two proposed bridges (on Dr E Moses Road and on Keshavrao Khadye Marg) will take the load off the century-old Mahalaxmi bridge. The cost of the two bridges is R785 crore. There are 265 trees on the site of proposed bridges. The contractor sent a request for removing 199 trees. But after the map of the site submitted by the bridges department, the BMC administration proposed to cut 153 trees and transplant 46 trees.