Thane: Two distinct but united protests unfolded in Thane on April 12, as concerned citizens raised their voices over the rampant felling of trees and the opaque decision-making behind urban development initiatives along Ghodbunder Road.

The first protest, held at Manpada Junction, saw around 40 environmental advocates from across the city assembling under the banner of the Global Climate Strike.

The group criticised TMC for what they perceived as a disregard for ecological balance, accusing officials of routinely granting tree-cutting permissions without sufficient transparency or public consultation. Their demands included clear disclosures around such approvals and a more accountable system for overseeing compensatory plantations.

Simultaneously, a much larger demonstration took place at the Cosmos Lounge Co-operative Housing Society in Chitalsar-Manpada, where over 150 residents gathered to oppose the environmental fallout of the proposed Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel.

Protesters insisted the project, in its current form, would lead to significant deforestation and urged authorities to consider a revised design that would see the tunnel constructed entirely underground to preserve the surrounding greenery.

In response to the public outcry, officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) have agreed to meet with concerned citizens on April 15 to hear their grievances and consider their suggestions. Environmental concerns in the region have been steadily mounting.

A survey conducted by the Muse Foundation revealed that since 2022, approvals have been granted, or are pending, for the felling of over 6,500 trees across Thane. Activists argue that this number may significantly understate the true extent of tree loss, pointing to a broader pattern of minimal transparency in projects such as the Ghodbunder Road expansion and the Saket–Anand Nagar flyover.

In a bid to compel systemic reform, protesters presented a list of four key demands to local authorities,  Public access to all records related to tree-cutting approvals, geotagged documentation of both standing and relocated trees, periodic updates on the status, and survival of compensatory plantations, along with creation of a dedicated helpline to address environmental grievances.