Supreme Court (SC) clears removal of 45,675 mangroves for Versova-Bhayandar coastal road

Key facts

• The Supreme Court (SC) refused to interfere with a Bombay High Court (HC) order allowing the removal of 45,675 mangrove trees for the proposed Versova-Bhayandar coastal road.
• A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant noted that the project is intended to decongest the western highway and provide significant advantages to Mumbai residents.
• The project proponent has identified 31 hectares of land for compensatory afforestation, which received permission on 12 December 2025.
• The SC mandated that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Nagpur, must file annual status and audit reports for the next 10 years on or before 12 January.
• The environmental NGO Vanasakthi contested the project, stating that mangroves absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) five times more than normal forests and serve as critical flood protection for Mumbai.
• The court emphasised the need to maintain a balance between environmental protection norms and developmental requirements in the public interest.