MUMBAI: On Tuesday, the BMC’s Tree Authority approved a proposal to cut down 126 trees for a slum rehabilitation project at Hiranandani Udyan in Powai. The decision followed the developer’s commitment to provide over 4,000 free rehabilitation flats for those affected by various infrastructure projects led by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).
The proposal presented to the Tree Authority requested permission to remove trees obstructing construction on plots 23A (Part), 26A (Part), and 27 (Part), now bearing New Plot Number 23/9/2, located in Powai village, Kurla taluka. The application was submitted by developer Bhawanishankar H Sharma through architect Vishwas Satodia on December 9, 2025, and was later revised after addressing deficiencies in March and April this year.
Following a joint site survey conducted by BMC officials and the project architect on February 21 and March 4, 2026, it was identified that 144 trees were present on the site. Out of these, 126 trees would be impacted by the proposed construction under the SRA scheme.
The Tree Authority has authorized the removal of 44 trees and the transplantation of 82 trees, ensuring that 18 trees remain intact on the property.
The proposal noted that a previous approval granted in October 2022 had allowed the removal of 95 trees, out of which 60 were felled and 35 transplanted. Due to changes in the redevelopment layout, a fresh approval was sought for the updated tree proposal.
A letter from the architect on July 15, 2026, confirmed that a tripartite agreement had been formed among the MMRDA, SRA, and developer Bhawanishankar H Sharma. This agreement ensures that the developer will provide around 4,000 rehabilitation flats at no cost for project-affected families across various MMRDA and SRA initiatives.
Additionally, the housing units will also assist in the rehabilitation of families displaced by the Mithi River widening project, as notified by the Maharashtra government in July 2010.
