Versova–Bhayandar Coastal Road Under Fire for Alleged Illegal Mangrove Clearance

Approval for the Versova–Bhayandar coastal road project has allegedly been granted without obtaining the required legal clearances.

Legal notices have also been issued to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Maharashtra Mangrove Cell, and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests on charges of violating orders of the Bombay High Court.

The proposed section of the coastal highway, aimed at improving north–south connectivity across Mumbai’s western suburbs, passes through coastal areas.

Since the alignment includes mangrove forests, it requires approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, and strict compliance with the High Court’s directives on mangrove protection, said Stalin Dayanand, director of the non-profit organisation that issued the legal notice.

In its notice, the organisation has stated that authorities must not permit mangrove destruction without obtaining final Stage-II forest clearance under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and without complying with the High Court’s orders.

The organisation has alleged that the permissions sought by the authorities are illegal and that work has begun even though final approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has not been granted.

The notice refers to a Bombay High Court order dated December 12, 2025, which stated that any activity involving the destruction of mangroves before Stage-II approval is illegal.

The court had also directed that compensatory mangrove afforestation cannot be carried out post-facto and must be undertaken simultaneously with, or prior to, any permitted destruction.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Stalin said that mangrove destruction had begun even before court permission was granted. According to him, work has been underway for the past few months in mangrove areas in Malvani.

The court had earlier directed the BMC and other petitioners to file interim applications every year for a period of ten years.

It also ordered the submission of comprehensive status and audit reports, along with affidavits signed by the Municipal Commissioner, the Mangrove Cell, and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

The court warned that failure to submit these reports by January 12 every year would amount to contempt of court.