MUMBAI: Cyclists from all over the city and outside came together on Saturday morning for a ‘Tour de Aarey’ to demonstrate against the destruction of the green lung for a slew of projects.

Recently an MMRDA proposal was tabled before the BMC Tree Authority for the removal of 2,298 Aarey trees for a car shed for the proposed Metro 3. Of the trees to be removed, the MMRDA said 2,044 trees could be transplanted and 254 would be cut down.

After stern opposition by citizens on March 2, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stayed the proposal and appointed an expert committee to look into all aspects of the proposed tree-felling. The project is now expected to get a go-ahead only after the committee submits its report.

There are other projects too on Aarey land in the proposed Development Plan, from a zoo to a theme park and an east-west road to a sports complex.

To protest against all these, cycling enthusiasts from places as far away as Chembur and Bandra in the city and even from neighbhouring Thane answered a call sent out by members of the Save Aarey campaign and came to pedal against the destruction of the jungle that has served for decades as a nature park for residents. For many, it was their first ride under the lush green canopy of the Aarey Milk Colony forest.

The campaign organizers are trying to involve various kind of nature enthusiasts in their mission and the cycling tour was organized to introduce riders to the great trails offered by Aarey and spread awareness on what they stand to lose if the jungle goes.

Manish Sethi, one of the core organizers of the event, said he had been riding through the Aarey forest for the past 10 years and was extremely upset to hear about the Metro car shed.

“Aarey provides a unique off-road cycling experience to any cycling enthusiast,” Sethi said. “As soon as you enter the Aarey Colony forest, you witness how the minimum temperature dips. At the event, we briefed all the cyclists about the various cycling routes which they can ride through within Aarey itself. Every cyclist rode a minimum of 40 km from his home to reach Aarey land, which was a commendable effort.”

The cyclists first assembled at Goregoan toll naka and rode up to the Metro 3 car shed site. There was an art installation by artist Kisalay Vora there: logs of wood covered with a white cloth and red paint sprayed over them to symbolize the death of the jungle.

Here the cyclists were briefed about the campaign. Slogans like ‘Save Aarey, Save Mumbai’ rent the air and the cyclists signed a petition to be given to the government for cyclist-friendly Aarey roads.

Stalin Dayanand, project director of the NGO Vanashakti and member of the Save Aarey campaign, said the cycling tour sent a message to the authorities that open spaces must be kept for recreational purposes.

“It’s a cyclist’s dream to have such avenues for riding the bicycle surrounded by greenery, and Aarey provides such an opportunity,” he said.

Next on the list of Save Aarey is a human chain on the Marine Drive promenade on March 20 at 4.30 pm.

