2,426 Trees Cut For Pune Metro; RTI Reveals No Current Data On Compensatory Plantation
Pune, 30th August 2026: As many as 2,426 trees have been cut or affected for the Pune Metro project, while MahaMetro has planted 14,134 trees as compensatory plantation. However, the organisation does not currently have information on the survival or present condition of these trees, according to information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The disclosure was made by MahaMetro in response to an RTI query filed by activist Tushar Ratnapal. The organisation, however, said that all the trees planted as part of the compensatory plantation were alive during the three-year maintenance period.
According to the information provided by MahaMetro, 2,426 trees have been affected so far for the Pune Metro project. In compensation, 14,134 trees were planted at various locations, including Lonavala, Magarpatta City, Wagholi, Pashan Panchvati, Akurdi Metro Eco Park, Taljai Hill, ITI Aundh, Alandi GREF Centre, Deccan College and Khadki Cantonment Board, among others.
However, MahaMetro said it does not have data on the current status of these trees.
The organisation also said that it does not maintain a separate record of expenditure on the maintenance of the compensatory trees. The maintenance cost was included in the respective project contracts, according to the RTI response.
No penal action for tree cutting
The RTI response also revealed that no penal action has been taken so far under the relevant tree protection law for the cutting of trees for the Metro project.
MahaMetro said a security deposit of ₹10,000 per planted tree had been deposited with the Tree Authority.
Ratnapal questioned the effectiveness of compensatory plantation, particularly in view of the lack of information about the current condition and survival rate of the trees.
“Trees in the city are routinely cut for Metro projects, while claims are made that thousands of trees are planted elsewhere in compensation. But MahaMetro has not provided information on the current status of these trees or whether they have actually survived,” Ratnapal said.
He also pointed out that 139 more trees are now proposed to be cut, for which MahaMetro has committed to planting 3,050 trees in compensation.
“The question is whether these trees will be properly maintained and how many of them will survive for even a year. It is difficult to say,” Ratnapal said.
MahaMetro says all trees survived during maintenance period
MahaMetro maintained that the trees planted under the project were properly maintained during the stipulated maintenance period.
“The maintenance period for the trees planted by MahaMetro was three years. MahaMetro properly maintained them during this period. Therefore, all the planted trees were alive,” said Chandrashekhar Tambwekar, Public Relations Officer, MahaMetro.
The RTI disclosure has brought renewed attention to the monitoring of compensatory tree plantations linked to major infrastructure projects in Pune. While MahaMetro maintains that the planted trees survived during the contractual maintenance period, the absence of current data on their condition makes it difficult to independently assess how many of the 14,134 trees remain alive today.
