Andheri's new 3.5 acre urban forest brings down local temperature by nearly 4°C

The Mahatapasvi Acharya Shri Mahashramanji Garden, developed on a once-barren plot in Marol, Andheri East, was officially opened on Monday. Transformed over the past two years into a dense urban forest, the 3.5-acre green space is designed to reduce local temperatures and support biodiversity. Officials say that the project serves as a model for future urban spaces, with similar efforts expected to lower Mumbai’s temperatures by 3–4 °C over the next five years. 

The park was executed jointly by BMC and Marol Co-operative Industrial Estate, along with World Resources Institute (WRI) as the technical knowledge partner and Studio Pipeelikaput as lead consultant.

The garden was developed using native plant species from nearby ecological zones, such as Aarey Forest, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and Ranibagh. More than 100 species were planted, including several varieties of bamboo and fruit-bearing trees like mango, jackfruit, papaya, and banana. These were chosen to support local biodiversity and attract birdlife. The plantation began in March 2024, focusing on a balanced mix of trees, shrubs, grasses, and medicinal herbs to create a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Within two months of planting, the vegetation had matured enough to influence the local microclimate. Temperature measurements taken across the site showed that areas with dense tree cover were significantly cooler by as much as 4°C, compared to exposed zones.

Scientific documentation submitted to BMC by WRI, confirmed an average temperature drop of 2°C in green patches compared to the same period last year, highlighting the site’s growing role in reducing urban heat in this industrial.

Officials stressed the importance of citizen participation in maintaining such projects across the city.