After long protests, finally 371 trees spared at Cantonment Railway Colony in Bengaluru

Following months of public outcry and 15,000 petitions, the Forest Department halts tree felling and protects Bengaluru’s Cantonment Railway Colony as a green heritage zone.

Bengaluru’s environmentalists have scored a historic win. After months of protests, petitions, and public campaigns, the Karnataka Forest Department has stopped the proposed felling of 371 trees at Cantonment Railway Colony. The 8.61-acre area has been officially declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site, ensuring its protection for generations.

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Earlier, both the Railway Department and the Greater Bengaluru Authority had cleared the way for tree cutting, sparking widespread outrage. Over 15,000 citizens signed petitions, staged demonstrations, and demanded that the city preserve one of its rare remaining green spaces.

The site is ecologically rich, housing over 50 tree species, rare birds, pollinators, and migratory species. It is also historically significant, Mahatma Gandhi is believed to have held discussions with freedom fighters here in 1920.

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With this declaration, Bengaluru gains a protected green sanctuary and sets a strong precedent for citizen-driven conservation in an increasingly urbanized city.