The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has initiated a significant step in its urban infrastructure push, authorizing the removal of 85 standing trees in the city's West Zone. The civic body plans to auction the wood obtained from this felling, with the event scheduled for December 11 at the Rasala Nursery near the Ellisbridge BRTS bus stand.
Major Infrastructure Projects Drive Tree Clearance
This decision is directly linked to two crucial infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion. The primary clearance involves a substantial number of trees to make way for a new, widened railway overbridge.
A total of 68 trees have been identified as obstructions for the upcoming four-lane railway overbridge (ROB) that will run from the RTO Circle towards the Sabarmati and Chandkheda areas. This project is expected to significantly improve connectivity and traffic flow in a key corridor of the city.
Additionally, 17 trees will be removed from the alignment of a flyover bridge project extending from Law Garden to Sheth CN Vidyalaya. Officials stated that these green assets are being sacrificed as they fall directly on the crucial alignments necessary for the construction of these public utility structures.
Wood Auction Details and Estimated Yield
The material recovered from the felling of these 85 trees is not being wasted. The AMC has organized a public auction for the wood, which will be held at Rasala Nursery near Ellisbridge BRTS on December 11. This process allows the civic body to recover some value from the removed trees.
The estimated yield from this exercise is considerable. Authorities expect to obtain approximately 22.57 cubic metres of timber and a massive 652.18 quintals of firewood from the cleared trees. This auction will provide raw materials for various commercial and industrial uses while generating revenue for the civic body.
Balancing Development and Environment
Such projects invariably spark discussions about urban development versus environmental conservation. While the infrastructure upgrades are deemed essential for Ahmedabad's growing needs, the loss of mature trees impacts the city's green cover and air quality.
The civic body's move highlights the ongoing challenge Indian cities face: facilitating necessary development and modernization while attempting to preserve or compensate for ecological losses. The auction of the wood represents an effort to ensure the felled trees are utilized productively.
Residents and environmental groups often call for compensatory plantation drives to offset such losses, though the effectiveness and scale of these measures remain a point of public scrutiny. The success of these major infrastructure projects will ultimately be measured by their long-term benefit to the city's mobility against the immediate cost to its urban forest.
