SC permits Mumbai Metro to seek permission for felling 84 trees at Aarey Colony

The Supreme Court permitted Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd to raise with the relevant authority uts plea for felling 84 tress at Mumbai's Aarey Colony for constructing train ramps at its car shed project.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Mumbai Metro, that the felling of 84 trees were needed for constructing ramps for the trains at the car shed.

The MMRCL should be permitted to pursue its application with the Tree Authority for felling 84 trees, the bench said and fixed the main pleas against the Metro project for final hearing in February next year.

Earlier, the apex court had in 2019 taken suo motu cognisance of a letter petition addressed to the Chief Justice of India by law student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay on the felling of trees in the colony. The felling of trees in the colony has been opposed by environmentalists and residents.