Tata Power proposes ₹177 cr station on 4.5 acres of Vikhroli mangroves
A proposal to axe around 4.5 acres of mangrove forest in Vikhroli for Tata Power’s proposed 400kV switching station will be considered by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority later this month. The ₹177 crore infrastructure project aims to cater to rising electricity demand in south Mumbai, with part of the project falling under the eco-sensitive zone of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
According to Tata Power’s proposal submitted to the authority, the switching station and an internal road for operations and maintenance cut across Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) IA and CRZ II areas, as designated under the Coastal Zone Management Plan 2019 prepared by the Institute of Remote Sensing, Chennai.
The proposal details that an outgoing cable will be buried along the BMC Lagoon approach road, entirely within CRZ IA. The project also features a 446.61-metre overhead transmission line in CRZ IA, while 560.37 metres of an 11.5-km underground transmission line will pass through CRZ areas. Because the site falls partially within the eco-sensitive zone of the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary—a Ramsar wetland of international importance—Tata Power will separately seek clearance from the ESZ Monitoring Committee, Mumbai.
Tata Power highlighted that the project, structured in line with a Detailed Project Report approved by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission, is critical to securing reliable power for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Demand in south Mumbai is projected to grow significantly as major redevelopment projects proceed, including work at BDD chawl, Dharavi, Bhendi Bazaar, Kamathipura, and the Mumbai Port Trust, along with expanding metro and monorail networks.
The plan has drawn sharp criticism from environmental activists. D Stalin of the non-profit organization Vanshakti described the clearance of the Ramsar site as deeply disappointing, pointing out that Adani Power previously laid power lines through the mangrove forest and a new bridge from Ghansoli to Vikhroli is also proposed. Stalin stated that protective institutions were failing to safeguard wildlife habitats from cumulative stress.
Tata Power did not respond to requests for comment regarding the proposal.
