2,300 trees may be axed to make way

GURGAON: The city will have to pay a huge price to get respite from constant traffic jams. MCG has plans to cut nearly 2,300 trees for the construction of three underpasses at IFCCO Chowk, Rajiv Chowk and Signature Towers.
According to sources in MCG, the civic body has prepared a list of the number of trees that are to be cut at each of these places."Over 1,000 trees will have to be felled at IFFCO Chowk alone, as the underpass design is quite complex, and therefore, requires more space for construction. Around 900 trees will have to be cut at Signature Towers crossing and another 400 at Rajiv Chowk," said a senior MCG official.
Officials said they are mindful of the environmental impact of cutting these trees, but said it will be difficult for them to reduce this figure. "We are trying our best so that not even a single tree is cut unnecessarily. The maximum trees will be felled at IFFCO Chowk. The crossing here is not at right angles and there is a large residential complex nearby, which cannot be relocated," the official said.
Officials from the forest department said they will scrutinise the plan once they receive the detailed proposal from MCG. "We are yet to receive the request mentioning the number of trees MCG wants to cut for the three underpasses. Once we receive the file, we will see if some of these trees can be saved," said an official.