104 trees to make way for Namma Metro Phase 2 projects

As many as 91 trees will make way for Namma Metro Phase 2 work on extending the line from Baiyyappanahalli to the Visvesvaraya Industrial Area station, while another 13 will be cleared for the Bommasandra line.

The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bengaluru Urban district, has given permission for clearing trees in the Reach 1 extension (Baiyyappanahalli-Whitefield) and Reach 5 line between RV Road and Bommasandra based on the recommendations of the Tree Expert Committee (TEC).

Of the 91 trees being cleared for Reach 1, 52 will be translocated and 39 trees will be axed. The expert committee said that the removal of 91 trees was necessary due to the physical features of the project, including the formation of a new road (20 trees), structural works (24 trees), construction of a diaphragm wall (42 trees) and retaining wall (five trees).

Following the public notice for the felling of trees, the tree officer had received 107 objections. The TEC went through the proceedings before submitting the detailed report.

The tree officer has ordered the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to plant 910 tall and healthy saplings within six months after the removal of the trees and submit a plan for the same within the next two months.

The BMRCL has to care for the translocated trees for three years and submit a status report on their condition every quarter during that period.

Bommasandra line

The tree officer had received eight objections for the proposal to cut 15 trees for the RV Road-Bommasandra line (Reach 5). The TEC, however, concluded that two of them have to be retained and 13 have to be removed due to the construction work. The order by the tree officer includes the direction for compensatory afforestation of planting 10 trees for every tree cleared.