Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project's Tree Translocation Effort Yields Poor Survival Results
In Bengaluru, the ambitious Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) has come under scrutiny as recent data reveals a dismal survival rate for trees translocated to make way for infrastructure development. Over three years into the project, less than half of the replanted trees show signs of survival, raising serious environmental concerns.
Alarming Survival Statistics Unveiled
A quarterly report published earlier this month by the Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-Ride), the implementing agency for the BSRP, disclosed that only 125 out of 279 trees transplanted by December 2025 have survived. These trees were removed from their original locations based on five official memoranda issued by the former Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) between December 2022 and July 2025.
Most of the translocated trees, except for 12 planted in 2025, were relocated to areas around Yeshwantpur, including the CQAE Yeshwantpur Campus, Railway Colony, and residential quarters. The report attributes the high mortality rate primarily to translocation shock, a condition where trees fail to adapt to new environmental conditions.
Ecologists and Activists Voice Concerns
Prominent ecologist Harini Nagendra explained the process, stating, "Basically, what you do is cut the roots and the branches while transporting, and then you pull them out of the soil and put them into the new soil. That whole process is for them to grow the roots and shoots again, and become accustomed to the new environment." She emphasized that the first priority should always be to avoid cutting trees altogether, as translocation is not guaranteed to succeed despite significant financial investment.
City-based civic activist Rajkumar Duggar expressed shock at the survival figures, remarking, "I'm really shocked at these figures; we wasted so much time and money on this. Even 95% survival is a failure, as you are losing a significant number of trees. K-Ride should drop this idea of transplanting."
K-Ride's Response and Compensatory Measures
In response, K-Ride officials acknowledged that tree translocation involves inherent biological risks. They noted that survival largely depends on species characteristics, root adaptability, seasonal conditions, and post-translocation stress factors. A K-Ride official stated, "Most of the trees translocated were mature ones and a few species that do not adapt to translocation. The trees that were indigenous and young survived uprooting and translocation. Initially, 45–50% was the survival rate, but with the application of hormones and medicines and a scientific method of translocation, the survival rate has now gone up to 60–65%."
To mitigate the environmental impact, the implementing agency reported that a total of 3,260 compensatory trees have been planted on the GKVK campus. Maintenance activities, including watering, protection, and periodic monitoring, are being undertaken by the Greater Bengaluru Authority's forest wing.
Detailed Breakdown of Translocation Efforts
The translocated trees included a variety of species such as mahogany, tore matti, jamun, hebbevu, honge, raintree, benjamina, and sandal. Notably, during the last translocation in September 2025, all 12 trees failed to show any signs of survival, with seasonal variations cited as a contributing factor. This particular transplantation was carried out by an agency engaged by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
The report further explained, "This is the first quarter following the translocation of trees in NPK Layout. The translocated trees will be monitored across all four seasons to assess their survival rate. All 12 trees were translocated. During this quarter, none of the trees showed survival symptoms due to translocation shock and seasonal variation."
Key Statistics at a Glance
- Total trees transplanted: 279 (up to December 2025)
- Total trees that survived: 125
- Survival rate: 45%
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing urban development with environmental conservation in rapidly growing cities like Bengaluru.
