Pune: Activists Seek Clarity On MahaMetro’s 41,000-Tree Plantation Plan
Pune: Activists Seek Clarity On MahaMetro’s 41,000-Tree Plantation Plan
Pune, May 13, 2026: Environmental activists and concerned citizens have raised questions over the planning and execution of MahaMetro’s ambitious proposal to plant 41,000 trees across Pune, demanding greater transparency and detailed public disclosure about the project.
Concerns intensified after MahaMetro issued a tender on March 25 for tree plantation and seven years of maintenance. Activists pointed out that the tender document does not specify crucial details such as the species of trees to be planted, their age and height, or the exact locations identified for the plantation drive.
Environmental groups have also questioned whether sufficient land has been identified for such a large-scale plantation effort and whether the initiative is intended as compensation for trees removed during metro construction work.
Environmentalist Ameet Singh stressed the importance of accountability and scientific planning in environmental projects. “Large-scale ecological initiatives require proper planning and public transparency to ensure long-term benefits,” he said. He further noted that plantation drives should focus not only on the number of trees planted, but also on biodiversity, survival rates, and long-term maintenance.
Meanwhile, members of the NGO Apla Parisar submitted a letter to MahaMetro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar seeking clarification on multiple aspects of the project. The letter was signed by organisation president and former corporator Ujjwal Keskar along with environmental activists Prashant Badhe and Suhas Kulkarni.
Activists have also expressed concern that plantation planning appears to have been left entirely to the contractor without adequate involvement of horticulture or landscape experts. Questions were further raised after the opening of tender bids was reportedly delayed beyond the April 27 submission deadline.
While citizens and environmental groups have welcomed the initiative to increase Pune’s green cover, they say greater public communication and transparency are necessary to ensure the project delivers meaningful ecological impact rather than remaining a symbolic exercise.
