The Union environment ministry s regional empowered committee has approved the diversion of 12.78 hectares of mangrove forests for the expansion of railway services in Mumbai. The proposal, which includes the felling of over 2,000 mangroves, has been awaiting clearance for over a year. The project aims to add a fifth and sixth railway line to the Western Railway to ease congestion. The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation has been instructed to construct animal underpasses to protect wildlife in the area. The project is still awaiting necessary clearances from the Bombay High Court and the state coastal zone management authority. | Mumbai news