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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to cut more than 45,000 mangroves for the proposed ₹18,263-crore Versova-Bhayandar coastal road project in north Mumbai.The project is planned as an extension of the coastal road from Nariman Point to Bandra and the under-construction sea link between Bandra and Versova. The BMC has said the road will reduce travel time between Versova and Mira Bhayandar from nearly two hours to less than 20 minutes, and cut the distance by 10 km to 23.2 km from 33.6 kmDismissing an appeal by non-government organisation Vanashakti against the Bombay High Court's December 12 order clearing the project, a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the road would have a 'significant and beneficial impact' by easing congestion on the western highway."There will be other significant advantages for the residents of Mumbai due to the construction of the road," it said, while taking note of the undertakings given by BMC to the high court that both in situ mangrove plantation and compensatory afforestation would be carried out after the cutting of mangrove trees.The apex court also directed the BMC to submit annual reports to the high court on compensatory afforestation and mangrove restoration. The high court had earlier asked the civic body to file yearly affidavits for 10 years on tree plantation.The court noted that the BMC would undertake compensatory afforestation on non-forest land in Chandrapur district. Of the affected mangroves, 36,675 will be relocated and 9,000 permanently removed.Senior counsel C U Singh, appearing for the NGO, argued that satellite images from October 2025 indicated discrepancies in earlier afforestation claims. He urged a review to reduce the number of mangroves to be cut. "If the amount of cutting can be minimised, if we save at least 10,000, that is a huge benefit for the nation. Mangroves absorb Co2 more than five times that of a normal forest. We are not questioning project, saving mangroves won't hamper project. As per them, only 9000 are in the direct path of the project," Singh submitted.Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the BMC, opposed the plea, saying the project would reduce travel time and traffic congestion.Around 60,000 mangroves fall within the project's influence zone, of which about 45,675 across 103.65 hectares will be cut.