Mumbai: Western Railway chops 51 trees before rains arrive

Western Railway (WR) has cut 51 trees and trimmed 1,591 more along its tracks as part of its pre-monsoon initiative.

Yet there are a few that remain dangerously close to the rail tracks since local residential societies and private properties are not allowing them to cut them.

The authorities claim that they have observed that during the monsoon, trees along the railway tracks on railway land, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation land and private land close to the tracks, pose a threat to the movement of trains.

A survey of such trees was jointly conducted by Railways and BMC officials. On the basis of the survey, permission was granted to cut and trim the trees.

Ravinder Bhakar, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway said: "We have carried out trimming of 1591 trees and cut 51 trees during the last 6 months as part of the pre-monsoon preparation work. In recent instances certain Ashoka trees was seen leaning towards railway tracks that caused loss of punctuality and cancellation".