GBA to launch online portal for tree-felling applications in Bengaluru

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will launch a web portal in October to process tree-felling applications online, aiming to improve transparency and timely handling of requests. The portal will eliminate manual intervention, allowing citizens and agencies to apply directly with documents, track application stages, and mark requests as urgent to prioritize removal of dangerous trees. Applications will be assigned to field officers, then reviewed by Assistant and Deputy Conservators of Forests. The portal is in final development, pending payment gateway integration. It will create a database of felled trees, following a Karnataka High Court directive to address tree-related complaints by urgency, after the GBA was ordered to pay Rs 2.82 crore compensation for a falling branch injury.