With environmentalists opposing the chopping of over 3,000 trees to widen the road between Shirshad and Ambad areas close to the Tungareshwar and Tansa wildlife sanctuaries for years, MMRDA has finally decided to drop the plan.

Sources said MMRDA had plans to cut 3,027 full-grown trees along the 20-km stretch in the Bhiwandi-Vasai taluka of Thane district to convert the two-lane road into a four-lane one. In 2013, NGO Vanashakti had approached HC and filed a PIL against the plan to axe the trees, saying the open space on both sides of the road should be used for the widening project.