Bombay High Court Allows Removal of 1,237 Mangroves for Versova-Madh Bridge with Safeguards

Public infrastructure permitted subject to ecological commitments

The Bombay High Court permitted the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to remove 1,237 mangroves for construction of the Versova-Madh Island connector bridge in Mumbai. The project is intended to reduce the road journey between the two areas from about 22 kilometres to around 1.5 kilometres.

The BMC had originally sought permission affecting fewer mangroves, but reassessment increased the number to 1,237. The Court considered the environmental approvals already obtained and the restoration commitments placed on record by the civic body.

39,000 mangroves and ten-year monitoring

The BMC undertook to plant about 39,000 mangroves over nine hectares of degraded mangrove forest land, with substantial plantation at or near the affected site. It also committed to monitor the plantation for ten years and had deposited more than ₹1.42 crore for the work.

The Division Bench held that the bridge was a public infrastructure project and not a private commercial venture. It accepted the project only on the strength of the ecological safeguards and the formal undertaking given by the civic body.

Final outcome

The Court permitted the BMC to proceed with the bridge project and removal of the identified mangroves. It made clear that breach of the ecological undertaking could expose the civic body to civil as well as criminal consequences.

Case: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation v Union of India

Case No.: Writ Petition (L) 17795 of 2026

Bench: Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna

For BMC: Senior Advocate Aspi Chinoy with Joel Carlos and Oorja Dhond

For MCZMA: Manish Kelkar and Gauri Phadake

For State: Additional Government Pleader Jyoti Chavan with Assistant Government Pleader Nazia Sheikh

For Bombay Environment Action Group: Aditya Mehta, instructed by Bagla & Associates

Source: https://www.livelaw.in/amp/high-court/bombay-high-court/will-bring-respite-to-mumbaikars-bombay-high-court-permits-cutting-of-1237-mangroves-for-connector-bridge-in-western-suburbs-550568