India, March 20 -- The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) wants to axe nearly 10,000 trees in Bhayandar's Uttan area to accommodate a car depot for the Metro 9 corridor, which connects Dahisar East with Mira Bhayandar. This is over four times the number of trees felled for a car depot for Metro 3 at Aarey Milk Colony in Goregaon. The proposal has elicited sharp rebuke from environmentalists, who accuse the government of concealing crucial information and endangering the region's ecology.

The Mira Bhainder Municipal Corporation (MBMC) issued a public notice March 12 regarding the proposal to axe 9,900 trees for the car depot in Uttan, inviting suggestions and objections from citizens within March 19. The notice, issu...