Navi Mumbai: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay submitted its draft technical review of the proposed Sanpada underpass project along the scenic Palm Beach Road to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), recommending a redesigned layout to preserve as many roadside trees as possible while meeting traffic improvement objectives. The draft report came after months of public opposition to the proposed felling and transplantation of hundreds of trees. Resident groups, led by Palm Beach Greens and NatConnect Foundation, organised silent human chains, urging the civic body to redesign the project rather than sacrifice Navi Mumbai’s green cover, prompting NMMC to seek IIT’s support. Responding to the public campaign, NMMC Commissioner Kailas Shinde earlier assured citizens that every effort would be made to minimise tree loss and commissioned an independent technical review by IIT Bombay.IIT Bombay concluded that the project’s traffic objectives could be achieved through a revised roundabout and access arrangement that reduced the footprint within the green belt and limited disruption to mature trees. A civic official said the final number of trees that may have to be felled or transplanted would be known only after NMMC prepared a revised design based on IIT Bombay’s recommendations.Rather than clearing the project for execution, IIT Bombay asked NMMC to return to the drawing board and prepare fresh engineering plans based on its revised concept. The institute asked the civic body to clearly map the impact on existing trees, landscaped areas, drainage and utilities before resubmitting the proposal for a final technical review.Shrikant Patki of Palm Beach Greens said, “We are not opposed to infrastructure development. But it must go hand in hand with environmental protection, and the trees lining the Palm Beach Road walking track must be preserved.”NatConnect director B N Kumar said, “At a time when Navi Mumbai needs to expand its green canopy, the NMMC should strive to prevent the destruction of existing trees while taking sustained steps to increase the city’s green cover.”The report also flagged shortcomings in the original design, including closely spaced merging points and inadequate weaving distances that could affect traffic flow and safety during peak hours. It recommended changes in the junction layout and traffic channelisation to ensure smoother vehicle movement while minimising the impact on the existing green belt.
