The MSRDC submitted the tree-count survey figure to the forest department for approval, where it revealed the number of trees that will need to be hacked and replanted to build additional lanes
More than 8,300 trees are likely to be chopped to expand the 94-km Mumbai-Pune Expressway, according to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).
The MSRDC submitted the tree-count survey figure to the forest department for approval, where it revealed the number of trees that will need to be hacked and replanted to build additional lanes.
A senior MSRDC official, said, "There are around 7,813 trees that will need to be chopped in Raigad district on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Khalapur and around 500 trees in Pune district near Maval village. This takes the total number of trees to more than 8,300, which will be affected."
The MSRDC official added, "The same number or more will be replanted at locations approved. We approached them with our tree-count survey and are waiting for further approvals."
The Rs 5,300-crore augmentation plan, for which 16 companies have been shortlisted, includes building of two elevated bridges and two tunnels that will shorten the distance between Mumbai and Pune by around 10 km and will also decongest the ghat section that gets choked considering the narrow path.
Once ready, motorists will be able to reach their destinations faster as it will cut down their drive on the hilly terrain. The twin tunnels will be around 10-km long and the two elevated roads will be around 11 km each. The lanes will start from Khalapur in Mumbai and will exit near Kusgaon in the Pune end.
Further, considering the project will involve construction of tunnels, blasting activities will also have to be carried out for the tunnels. "We also have to approach the environment ministry and the explosive department for carrying out blasting for the tunnels," added the MSRDC official.
Similarly, for the expansion of the Mumbai-Goa Highway and the construction of Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, about 2,000 trees will have to be chopped and replanted. For the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, the tree-count is currently going on and for the Mumbai Goa four-laning, around 31,000 trees are likely to be affected, to be replanted subsequently.
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