Decision makers-
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)
Urban Development Department,Government of Karnataka
Karnataka State Forest Department
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)
Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)
Demands
Explore alternate alignment/route to save trees
Conduct an environment impact assessment for the project.
Make the entire DPR (Detailed project report) available to the public.
Adopt innovative and sustainable solutions to minimize tree cutting.
Introduction
Bengaluru’s iconic green cover is at risk. The proposed Metro Phase 3 project plans to cut down 11,137 trees, a move that threatens the city’s ecological balance, livability, and identity. While the promise of improved urban transport is welcome, it cannot come at such an enormous environmental cost.
Tree transplantation, proposed as a solution, rarely succeeds. Most trees fail to survive the process. In 2022, the BMRCL had translocated 205 trees to make way for various metro petrojects, but only 17 survived. This puts the success rate at a mere 8%. Planting new seedlings, while important, is not a quick fix - it takes decades for them to mature and provide the same ecological benefits as the trees we stand to lose. Furthermore, compensatory plantations mandated by the High Court have often been delayed, with many of BMRCL's required saplings yet to be planted by mid-2024 .
The Issue
The current Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Phase 3 lacks essential details about the environmental costs and mitigation strategies. A comprehensive report would include the rationale, alternatives, and an assessment of the long-term impacts of cutting so many trees. Furthermore, no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted, leaving critical questions unanswered.
The loss of 11,137 mature trees will drastically increase Bengaluru’s urban heat, worsen air pollution, and heighten flood risks. These aren’t just environmental concerns - they directly impact the health and quality of life of everyone in the city. Reports indicate that saplings planted as compensatory measures are often in far-off locations, which fails to mitigate the environmental degradation in urban areas where the loss is most felt.
Why It Matters
Mature trees act as natural air purifiers, flood preventers, and wildlife habitats. Their loss cannot be replaced by planting saplings alone - new trees can take 20–30 years to reach the same capacity for cooling, carbon capture, and ecological balance. Meanwhile, the damage from their absence will be felt immediately.
Bengaluru is already struggling with extreme urbanization. Removing these trees without considering viable alternatives will push the city further into an environmental crisis. The scarcity of suitable afforestation spaces within the city is further compounded by unchecked concretization, which prevents essential re-greening efforts in urban areas.
What We Are Demanding
We urge the authorities to:
Evaluate the complete impact of cutting these trees and explore alternative alignment/route- to reduce ecological damage.
Share a detailed report that includes environmental, economic, and social assessments to ensure transparency and public involvement.
Use innovative designs and methods to minimize tree cutting, recognizing that transplantation and sapling planting alone are not sufficient.
This isn’t just about trees - it’s about safeguarding Bengaluru’s future. We cannot let short-term gains destroy the city’s green cover. Cutting down 11,137 trees without transparency or a sustainable plan is a loss we cannot afford.
Join us in calling for accountability and action. Together, we can demand a solution that protects both progress and the planet.
Sources
Decision makers-
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)
Urban Development Department,Government of Karnataka
Karnataka State Forest Department
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)
Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)
Demands
Explore alternate alignment/route to save trees
Conduct an environment impact assessment for the project.
Make the entire DPR (Detailed project report) available to the public.
Adopt innovative and sustainable solutions to minimize tree cutting.
Introduction
Bengaluru’s iconic green cover is at risk. The proposed Metro Phase 3 project plans to cut down 11,137 trees, a move that threatens the city’s ecological balance, livability, and identity. While the promise of improved urban transport is welcome, it cannot come at such an enormous environmental cost.
Tree transplantation, proposed as a solution, rarely succeeds. Most trees fail to survive the process. In 2022, the BMRCL had translocated 205 trees to make way for various metro petrojects, but only 17 survived. This puts the success rate at a mere 8%. Planting new seedlings, while important, is not a quick fix - it takes decades for them to mature and provide the same ecological benefits as the trees we stand to lose. Furthermore, compensatory plantations mandated by the High Court have often been delayed, with many of BMRCL's required saplings yet to be planted by mid-2024 .
The Issue
The current Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Phase 3 lacks essential details about the environmental costs and mitigation strategies. A comprehensive report would include the rationale, alternatives, and an assessment of the long-term impacts of cutting so many trees. Furthermore, no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted, leaving critical questions unanswered.
The loss of 11,137 mature trees will drastically increase Bengaluru’s urban heat, worsen air pollution, and heighten flood risks. These aren’t just environmental concerns - they directly impact the health and quality of life of everyone in the city. Reports indicate that saplings planted as compensatory measures are often in far-off locations, which fails to mitigate the environmental degradation in urban areas where the loss is most felt.
Why It Matters
Mature trees act as natural air purifiers, flood preventers, and wildlife habitats. Their loss cannot be replaced by planting saplings alone - new trees can take 20–30 years to reach the same capacity for cooling, carbon capture, and ecological balance. Meanwhile, the damage from their absence will be felt immediately.
Bengaluru is already struggling with extreme urbanization. Removing these trees without considering viable alternatives will push the city further into an environmental crisis. The scarcity of suitable afforestation spaces within the city is further compounded by unchecked concretization, which prevents essential re-greening efforts in urban areas.
What We Are Demanding
We urge the authorities to:
Evaluate the complete impact of cutting these trees and explore alternative alignment/route- to reduce ecological damage.
Share a detailed report that includes environmental, economic, and social assessments to ensure transparency and public involvement.
Use innovative designs and methods to minimize tree cutting, recognizing that transplantation and sapling planting alone are not sufficient.
This isn’t just about trees - it’s about safeguarding Bengaluru’s future. We cannot let short-term gains destroy the city’s green cover. Cutting down 11,137 trees without transparency or a sustainable plan is a loss we cannot afford.
Join us in calling for accountability and action. Together, we can demand a solution that protects both progress and the planet.
Sources