Bengaluru GBA receives over 8000 applications to remove 10000 trees in three years

Applications seeking permission to remove dead, hazardous trees and overhanging branches in Bengaluru have risen sharply over the past three years. Data from the Forest Department of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) reveals that the department received more than 8,000 applications to remove over 10,000 trees between the 2023–24 and 2026–27 financial years, driven by rapid urban development and an ageing canopy.

The number of applications has increased consistently year on year. The GBA received 1,840 applications in 2023–24, which rose to 2,602 in 2024–25, and climbed further to 3,217 in 2025–26. In the current 2026–27 financial year, the department has already received 484 applications.

Out of the 10,000 trees proposed for removal, 7,902 were located on private property, while 2,468 were avenue trees along public roads. Additionally, applicants sought the removal of more than 8,500 hazardous or dead branches.

Environmentalist and urban strategist Vinod Jacob attributed the rise to rapid real estate growth. Jacob stated that the race for commercial space is erasing trees, suggesting a need to restore clear norms at the site-plan stage, including mandatory setbacks and a minimum of one tree for every 30 to 40 square feet.

Tree experts noted that many of Bengaluru's trees have reached maturity, making them more susceptible to disease, structural weakness, and storm damage. Furthermore, poor maintenance has left avenue trees hazardous. Many trees across the city are concretised up to their bases, depriving them of water and nutrients, which leads to falling branches and uprooting.

Under the Karnataka Tree Preservation Act, corporations have up to 90 days to process and dispose of applications. While a senior GBA official stated that the department is adhering to this timeline, citizens continue to complain about delays in processing. The official added that protecting and retaining trees does not appear to be a priority for many applicants.