The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has obtained approval to fell 1,300 trees between Millennium City Centre and Hero Honda Chowk for the Gurugram Metro project, officials stated on Monday.

A senior GMDA official mentioned that the forest department had granted clearance the previous week. The official explained that permission had been received to cut down 1,300 trees, while approval for felling an additional 500 trees on the stretch from Hero Honda Chowk to Sector 9 was expected soon. They added that the modalities for tree felling would be coordinated with Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL), as the Metro project was being implemented by GMRL and GMDA was acting as the facilitating authority.

Earlier, GMDA had sought permission to remove 1,800 trees for Phase 1 of the ₹5,452-crore metro extension. A survey conducted by GMRL estimated that approximately 5,000 trees were present along the entire metro alignment. To compensate for the tree loss, GMRL committed to planting around 18,000 trees over 17 hectares of land in developing sectors of the city. The specific land parcels for this reforestation effort would be identified in collaboration with GMDA and the forest department, officials added.

The planned 28.5-kilometre metro line, connecting HUDA City Centre to Cyber Hub via Old Gurugram, will include 27 elevated stations. The project was launched on February 16 last year.

Separately, a senior GMRL official confirmed that technical bids submitted by eight firms for Phase 1 had been opened and were currently under evaluation. The official noted that the technical bids were being analyzed and that financial bids would be opened later. They emphasized the importance of securing all necessary permissions and completing pre-construction work before awarding the tender.