DESPITE opposition from environmentalists, the 84 km Mumbai-Pune express-way has been given clearance by the Union environment ministry. However, the ministry has not given clearance for the Ghat region, which is being studied by the Wild life Institue of Dehradun for impact on rare animal species in the region. Environmentalists say that the 1,500 crore six-lane project would completly destroy the endangered species of mouse deer and golden squrrel.

R C Sinha, managing director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) says that over 113,800 trees would be planted while only 5,600 trees would be cut to make way for the expressway.