Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train: Bombay HC allows mangrove felling for power line

Published 4 August 2026 · local

The Bombay High Court has allowed mangrove felling for a 13-km power transmission line linked to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Corridor, calling the bullet train project

The Bombay High Court has allowed mangrove felling for a 13-km power transmission line linked to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Corridor, calling the bullet train project one of “national importance” while pulling up the Maharashtra government over its handling of compensatory afforestation. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad permitted the felling of mangroves and trees for the transmission line between Dahanu and Amberserai in Palghar district, saying the line was crucial to ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the high-speed rail system. Read Full Story The court, however, criticised the state government for failing to comply with earlier directions on making information publicly available and establishing a transparent mechanism to monitor compensatory afforestation involving non-mangrove trees.

TRANSMISSION LINE FOR BULLET TRAIN The order came on a plea filed by Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited seeking permission to fell mangroves for the construction and laying of a 132 kV transmission line. The line will run from the existing Dahanu sub-station to the proposed Amberserai traction sub-station in Palghar district and is around 13 km long. Parts of the proposed route pass through mangrove forest land and private forest. While granting permission, the bench said the transmission line forms an important part of the bullet train project, which is of “national importance”.

The proposal to divert mangroves and fell trees had already been examined and approved by the competent authorities, the court said. COURT QUESTIONS COMPENSATORY AFFORESTATION While allowing the project, the bench raised concerns over the manner in which compensatory afforestation was being carried out. The court observed that planting trees in Solapur district, hundreds of kilometres away, may satisfy a statistical requirement but would not restore the ecological balance of the area where the mangroves and trees are being removed. The court described the Maharashtra government's “administrative apathy and continuing default” as “unacceptable”. It said that without an effective monitoring mechanism, compensatory afforestation risked becoming a theoretical exercise rather than genuine ecological restoration.

The state government has been directed to ensure full compliance with the court's earlier directions within four weeks. The court's order therefore allows the mangroves to be felled for the transmission line while simultaneously requiring Maharashtra to strengthen transparency and monitoring of compensatory afforestation measures. Ends With PTI inputs