BMC has given permission letter to MMRCL to remove 2646 trees in Aarey for Metro car depot on Friday, September 13. The Tree Authority (TA) passed the proposal on August 29. Tree activists went to the high court, the court had not given stay on the decision citing that the civic body wasn’t given formal permission to MMRCL. "Though the 15 days completed after tree authority's decision, the days will be calculated after the permission letter i. e. from September 13," said an activist from the 'save Aarey movement.'

There is constant opposition from activist to cut trees in the Aarey. Despite opposition from Shiv Sena, the proposal of removing 2646 trees had passed in the TA meeting on Aug 29. As per the proposal, there are 3,691 trees on the proposed Metro III car shed site in Aarey colony. Metro proposed to cut 2185 trees and transplant 461 trees.