Bhandup May Lose 8.2 Acres Of Mangroves For Mumbai’s GMLR Cloverleaf Junction

Mumbai is one of the major cities in India, and officials continue to add new roads and projects to improve connectivity. But better infrastructure can also come with an environmental loss. Now, a road project in Mumbai has raised concerns as 8.2 acres of mangroves in Bhandup could be lost. Scroll down for details! 

Mumbai To Lose 8.2 Acres Of Mangroves

Mumbai’s eastern suburbs could lose 8.2 acres of mangroves in Bhandup. As per Hindustan Times report, this environmental loss is linked to the cloverleaf junction planned under Phase IV of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR). The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) is expected to decide on the proposal on September 24, 2026.

The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road is a 12.2-km project being developed by the BMC. It will connect Film City in Goregaon with Amar Nagar in Mulund West. The project also includes a 5.3-km underground twin tunnel beneath Sanjay Gandhi National Park. However, the project will result in the destruction of 187 mangroves and 217 trees.

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Fishermen Raise Concern

Also, expressing concern over the loss of mangroves, Nandkumar Pawar, president of the Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union, said fishermen were never consulted. As mangroves and intertidal areas serve as fishing and breeding zones for fish and crabs, they are the main source of livelihood for them.

The project plans to plant trees in Brahmapuri, Chandrapur, to compensate for the mangroves it will destroy. However, Pawar argued that planting regular trees elsewhere cannot replace the lost mangroves.

Once the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) is completed, it will connect the Western Express Highway to the Eastern Express Highway, cutting travel time between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs from around 90 minutes to 25 minutes. Meanwhile, construction of the underground tunnel started on August 17.

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Cover Image Courtesy: X/ @MumbaiMangroves