Citizen survey questions DPR tree count on proposed elevated corridor alignment in Indiranagar

Concerned over the potential environmental impact of the proposed elevated corridor connecting Old Madras Road and Silk Board, residents of east Bengaluru’s Indiranagar on Sunday carried out an independent tree survey along the corridor’s alignment to document the existing greenery.

Contrary to the project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) claiming around 235 trees fall within the construction width of the corridor, of which 89 trees fall within the proposed alignment and are earmarked for felling, while 70 trees are to be trimmed, residents identified over 800 trees along the proposed flyover alignment.

I Change Indiranagar (ICI), the civic group that launched the initiative, said in a statement that the trees were documented through more than 1,500 images. Documented species include big leaf mahogany, gulmohur, rain tree, Indian almond and Indian cork tree. The group claimed that nearly 90% of the recorded trees appear to be in healthy condition.

Apart from the trees, participants also documented bird species, including the white-cheeked barbet, Asian koel, red-whiskered bulbul, rose-ringed parakeet, Oriental magpie-robin and jungle crow.

Sneha Nandihal of ICI told The Hindu that they would be meeting the Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) board on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

The proposed corridor, planned by the B-SMILE, will pass through 80 Feet Road, CMH Road and Indiranagar 100 Feet Road. It is among the 13 elevated corridors which will be implemented by the B-SMILE and endorsed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who has on multiple occasions stressed that the corridors would ease congestion in the city.

Citizen-led survey

More than 100 residents assembled at CMH Park on Sunday and divided themselves into 10 teams to survey the entire stretch of the proposed alignment.

The survey was conducted using Nature Ark’s Urban Tree Map application, a platform designed to document urban tree cover and support citizen science initiatives. The Nature’s Ark is a non-profit trust focused on biodiversity conservation and urban tree management.