The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL) and the environmentalists of the city are clashing with each other big time through media and social media. If you are not aware of the controversy, then MMRCL proposes to clear  2,646 trees from the forest area in the Aarey colony, so that it can build a rail shed for its Metro III project. The environmentalists are against it, because such a move could harm the ecology of the city and are staging protests outside the MMRCL office. They have also claimed that felling of these trees would only increase the pollution levels in the city, something which Mumbai has already been affected for years. #SaveAarey: After Shraddha Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Raveena Tandon, Actor John Abraham Joins The Fight To Keep The Forest Land Safe! (Watch Video).

Now what seems to be a tweet supporting MMRCL, Amitabh Bachchan posted about the experience of a 'friend' of his, who used the Metro rail and was happy to see how efficient it was. Currently, the only serviceable Metro Rail in Mumbai runs between Ghatkopar to Versova, Andheri, with the construction for more Metro lines already in work.

Check out Amitabh Bachchan's tweet below:

Though he hasn't outrightly given his support to the cutting of trees, the fact that Big B mentions about 'Solution for Pollution' in the same tweet where he praised the Metro is hint enough. Even Twitterati feels so. Check out some of the tweets slamming the Bollywood legend for his latest stand:

Increasing Pollution Levels

No More Worry Over Fuel?

Privileged Dig!

Below The Belt?

Can the Damage to Ecology Be Restored?

Did He, Though?

In case, you still have doubts about the purpose of Amitabh Bachchan's tweet, then this validation from Ashwini Bide, the Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, may help.

Amitabh Bachchan's stand with the MMRCL is hardly surprising since he is a known supporter of the ruling party, the Bhartiya Janta Party, who approves the MMRCL's projects. Recently he was also a part of the 'Mumbai in Minutes' video ad that narrates the benefits of Metro Rail.

Interestingly, Amitabh Bachchan himself was against the construction of a Metro line near his bungalow, Prateeksha, way back in 2010 (when the Congress was in power). He had also written a blog about it, saying how it would invade his privacy. Well, Time changes everyone. Amitabh Bachchan, Who Once Opposed Mumbai Metro, Appears in Ad Promoting Same Metro Service.

Anyway, the Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has given MMRCL the permission to cut the trees on August 29. However, many of the citizens, back by Shiv Sena (strangely, an ally of BJP), have taken the matter to the court to fight the decision.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 17, 2019 01:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).