The Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notification stating that three trees will be cut and two will be replanted to ensure the smooth operation of a construction crane at the site of the reconstruction of Gokhale bridge in Andheri East. According to the notice, there are 10 trees at the spot five of which are being impacted are coming in the way of a crane that will be moved to carry out staging and will be used to launch girders. Civic officials claim four of the trees in question are small.

After receiving permission to cut the trees, in the next phase, assembling and staging will be taken up. “The staging site that is selected will be used for operating cranes. These trees must be removed for the smooth operation of the crane,” a BMC official stated. “These trees are not affecting the alignment of the bridge. For girder launching we need to create a solid platform,” said a BMC official.