Treewalk advocates sustainable rail development in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Namma Bengaluru Foundation, in collaboration with North Bangalore Post, Jhatkhaa and citizens, cyclists, residents and environmentalists, conducted a tree walk and inspection in the city on Saturday. Around a dozen citizens examined over 100 trees on Yelahanka Main Road along the suburban railway line.

“We found around three trees that were infested with termites and were on the verge of dying. We have directed the BBMP forest department to check and plant new saplings. This exercise was to map the location and ensure that tree space is not wasted, like footpaths that have been paved or trees that have been cut and not replanted in the city,” a statement said.

The group came across trees numbered by the suburban rail line for their K-Ride project near Allalasandra, under the bridge leading to the Judicial Layout. “These healthy trees are around 40 years old and do not fall in line with the rail tracks. We mapped around 100 trees, of which around 60 were numbered, and found that over 50% (35) of these trees can be saved,” the press release said. The group is urging K-Ride, Bengaluru Sub-Urban Rail Project and the BBMP to rethink the tree-felling plan for the suburban rail line and reconsider how to reduce the felling of 33,000 trees.