Roof slabs of underground metro stations to be lowered by 5 m to make way for trees: CMRL tells Madras HC

CMRL has informed the Madras High Court of its decision to lower the roof slabs of underground stations being constructed under Phase II of the project by 5 m, so that enough soil could be filled on top of them for planting saplings of trees.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has informed the Madras High Court of its decision to lower the roof slabs of underground stations being constructed under Phase II of the project in the city by 5 m, so that enough soil could be filled on top of them for planting saplings of trees which would have deep roots.

The submission was made before Justice M. Dhandapani, who had decided to keep a watch over the number of trees that had been felled/being felled by CMRL in Panagal Park, Nehru Park, as well as Shenoy Nagar Park, and the steps being taken to provide alternative green cover to compensate for the loss of the trees.

The judge requested amicus curiae Chevanan Mohan, senior counsel Jayesh B. Dolia, representing CMRL, and the members of Chennai district green committee to visit the city parks, which had been affected due to the construction of the metro rail, and submit a report by February 17 on the steps required to be taken from an environmental perspective.

The orders were passed after taking note of the district green committee’s submission that CMRL had redeveloped 7,137 sq. m out of the total extent of 10,875 sq. m of Nehru Park, which fell under the already completed Phase I of the project, in Egmore, and handed it over to the Greater Chennai Corporation.

The court was also told that a total of 65 trees were felled in Nehru Park for the construction of a metro station there, and that 791 saplings, at the ratio of 1:12 for each felled tree, were planted inside the Central Prison at Puzhal in order to compensate for the loss of the green cover in the city.

Insofar as Panagal Park in T. Nagar was concerned, the judge was informed that CMRL was utilising 10,717 sq. m out of the total extent of 17,385 sq. m of the park, and that the construction work would get over only in 2027 since this park fell under the ongoing Phase II of the project.

Mr. Dolia said that the district green committee had given permission to CMRL for felling 186 trees in Panagal Park, and that 163 of them had already been felled. After recording his submission, the judge called for a report listing out the total number of trees that were in existence in the park.