Environmental groups have filed a petition with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stop the removal of over 700 trees along Mumbai’s Eastern Express Highway. The list includes more than 125 famous pink trumpet trees, known locally as the city’s own “cherry blossom” trees.
The Vikhroli–Ghatkopar section of the highway is known for its seasonal display. Every February and March, the pink trumpet trees bloom, attracting walkers, commuters, and photographers. People often pause in traffic to admire the pink flowers, which stand out against the city’s concrete landscape.
Residents have shown concern that this might soon disappear, as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has started work on a 12.95-kilometre elevated corridor connecting Chedda Nagar in Ghatkopar to Anand Nagar in Thane.
After the MMRDA sought approval, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which serves as the city’s tree authority, issued notices for tree removal. The proposal includes planting more than 4,000 new saplings and relocating some trees to the Bhandup and along the edge of Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
Despite these measures, civic organisations and locals remain worried. Experts in urban planning caution that old trees provide shade, support biodiversity, and help regulate temperatures. They suggest tree removal should be a last resort.
The project will ease traffic on one of the city’s busiest roads and reduce travel time significantly. But the pink trees have become a defining feature of the area. Residents and volunteers take special care of the young trees, especially during the hot summer months.
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