Navi Mumbai: In a significant relief for residents and environmental groups, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has sought technical inputs from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) to revise the proposed Palm Beach Road underpass design at Sanpada with the aim of saving maximum number of trees from being axed. The proposed underpass triggered public concern after civic notices listed 440 trees along Palm Beach Road for removal or transplantation to facilitate the project. Of these, 111 trees were marked for felling and 329 for transplantation. Meanwhile, as per the NMMC work order, the civic contractor has started the soil testing work by excavation for the underpass project, and two trees have been axed in the vicinity of Kesar Solitaire building.NMMC commissioner Kailas Shinde said, “The Sanpada underpass project is necessary considering the increase in traffic movement and for the convenience of motorists as part of the city’s infrastructure development. However, to ensure that maximum trees are saved from being felled and translocated, the underpass design plan has been referred to IIT-B for seeking technical suggestions and possible design changes.” Anil Patil, NMMC’s deputy engineer of Turbhe ward, said, “The excavation work for the Sanpada underpass project has been carried out as a preliminary stage for soil testing and digging trial pits to check for underground utilities like water pipelines, power, telecom cables and gas pipelines. For soil testing, the excavation would be needed for around 9 metres deep. The work order for the project is for 18 months.”BN Kumar, NatConnect Foundation director, welcomed the civic body’s latest initiative and said it reflected growing public sentiment in favour of protecting urban green cover. With IIT-B now examining options, citizens hope the final underpass design will prove that development and environmental protection can go hand in hand. “We are fully aware of Sanpada’s problems and that it needs a third exit. The project will happen, and we cannot oppose the city’s infrastructure development. Our only concern is that maximum trees must be saved.”
