HC permits Ganeshkhind Road widening, mandates transplanting 71 trees

19 Apr 2024 CW Team

A PIL was filed at the Bombay High Court by Pune-based NGO Parisar, along with activists Ameet Singh and Hema Chari, aiming to halt the felling of 192 trees on Ganeshkhind Road. The road segment stretching from the gate of Savitribai Phule Pune University to Sancheti Hospital is undergoing widening from 36 metres to 45 metres due to the commencement of work on the elevated Metro rail and the double-decker flyover.

Prior to the intervention of the NGO and activists, the civic body had already felled 93 trees.

On April 17, the court, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor, heard a petition from Parisar. They directed that instead of cutting down 192 trees, 71 trees should be transplanted in accordance with the recommendations of the expert committee. Additionally, the court instructed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to submit an affidavit promising to adhere to the committee's recommendations. During the hearing, advocate Nisha Chavan, head of PMC's legal department, and Aniruddha Pawaskar, chief of PMC's road department, were present.

Chavan stated, ?The high court disposed of the PIL and granted permission to PMC and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to cut and transplant trees for the widening of Ganeshkhind Road. They also instructed PMC to comply with the recommendations of the expert committee.?

Abhijit Kulkarni, senior lawyer representing PMC at the high court, remarked, ?The court accepted the report of its expert committee. Directives were also issued to all corporations to comply with Section 7(b) of the Tree Act. Additionally, the court ordered the submission of photographs depicting the transplantation of trees.?

The Bombay High Court granted approval for the transplantation of 71 trees on Ganeshkhind Road, as per the recommendations of an expert committee. This decision marked the conclusion of the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO. The court expressed its disapproval towards the planning authorities for not adhering to tree protection laws diligently. It issued directives to all municipal corporations, including Pune, to adhere to Section 7(b) of the Tree Act for the protection of trees within their respective jurisdictions. A PIL was filed at the Bombay High Court by Pune-based NGO Parisar, along with activists Ameet Singh and Hema Chari, aiming to halt the felling of 192 trees on Ganeshkhind Road. The road segment stretching from the gate of Savitribai Phule Pune University to Sancheti Hospital is undergoing widening from 36 metres to 45 metres due to the commencement of work on the elevated Metro rail and the double-decker flyover. Prior to the intervention of the NGO and activists, the civic body had already felled 93 trees. On April 17, the court, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor, heard a petition from Parisar. They directed that instead of cutting down 192 trees, 71 trees should be transplanted in accordance with the recommendations of the expert committee. Additionally, the court instructed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to submit an affidavit promising to adhere to the committee's recommendations. During the hearing, advocate Nisha Chavan, head of PMC's legal department, and Aniruddha Pawaskar, chief of PMC's road department, were present. Chavan stated, ?The high court disposed of the PIL and granted permission to PMC and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to cut and transplant trees for the widening of Ganeshkhind Road. They also instructed PMC to comply with the recommendations of the expert committee.? Abhijit Kulkarni, senior lawyer representing PMC at the high court, remarked, ?The court accepted the report of its expert committee. Directives were also issued to all corporations to comply with Section 7(b) of the Tree Act. Additionally, the court ordered the submission of photographs depicting the transplantation of trees.?

Technology

28 Oct 2025

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Infrastructure Transport

28 Oct 2025

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Real Estate

28 Oct 2025

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..