The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn up a three-point plan to safeguard trees that occupy the city’s footpaths while preventing hazards to life and property damage. According to the tree census of 2018, Mumbai has about 28.7 lakh trees, of which two lakh are located on the city's footpaths. The civic body pruned 50 per cent of the trees on footpaths before the monsoon season.

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Stating that these trees are considered risky or most vulnerable as they are around pedestrian walkways and vehicular carriageways, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said the civic body is chalking out a plan that involves engaging institutional expertise such as subject matter experts from Mumbai University and IIT Bombay, ensuring roots are not entangled in utilities, and exploring options to safeguard the life span of trees by improving their water absorption and retention capacity.