MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday cleared the path for the construction of the Versova-Madh connector bridge, a Rs 2,395-crore cable-stayed flyover in suburban Mumbai, by permitting the felling of 1,237 mangroves. The court observed that the project would provide “respite to the Mumbaikars” from travel delays and traffic jams.

A bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait M Sethna allowed a plea by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seeking permission for the 2,064-metre bridge over Malad Creek. The project involves the felling of 1,237 mangroves, for which court approval is mandatory under a 2018 High Court ruling for public projects.

“The project is clearly not one undertaken for a private commercial purpose or for the benefit of a particular private entity,” the bench noted in its detailed ruling of September 17. It added that the project is intended for “improving connectivity between Madh Island and the western suburbs of Mumbai.”

“The proposed bridge is aimed at providing some respite to the Mumbaikars from the menace of inordinate delays in travel due to traffic jams/congestion on such widely used roads of the city,” the court further observed.

The bench highlighted as an “important factor” that the travel distance between Versova and Madh Island would be “substantially reduced” from the present 22 kilometres to 1.5 kilometres once the project is completed.

The High Court observed that these aspects were “not controverted” and that the “mitigation measures proposed are too noteworthy.”

“This court’s limited intervention qua the mangroves in the region, coupled with all necessary safeguards and restoration measures, would subserve larger public interest,” the High Court stated.

Noting that “the environmental impact has not been left unaddressed,” the bench also recorded the BMC’s submission that 39,000 mangroves will be planted on 9 hectares of degraded mangrove forest land in the North Konkan region. The civic body has deposited Rs 1.42 crore for 10-year plantation, protection and maintenance measures. BMC further stated that a 2.5-hectare area will be used for in-situ mangrove restoration after construction, with only 0.2 hectares of mangroves permanently lost.