Mumbai Mangroves Threatened by Coastal Road Project

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has intervened regarding the proposed Versova-Dahisar coastal road in Mumbai. On January 2, 2026, the ministry requested an action taken report from the Maharashtra State Wetland Authority concerning a complaint about the potential destruction of approximately 45,675 mangroves. This action follows concerns raised by activist Bansari Kothari about the project's environmental impact.

Kothari's complaint emphasizes that mangroves are a vital natural barrier against flooding, coastal erosion, and storm surges. She argues that removing them would increase Mumbai's vulnerability and that compensatory plantations elsewhere would not mitigate the immediate local risks. The complaint highlights the mangroves' essential role in coastal protection, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

Environmental activists, including Natasha Pereira, are mobilizing public pressure, urging citizens to submit objections. Despite central approvals for the road, activists believe sustained public outcry is crucial to halt the project. They are campaigning against what they term 'car-centric development' that sacrifices fragile ecosystems, with plans to submit around 1,000 objections to the state government.