Mohali, August 19 The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) is axing trees to pave way for constructing, strengthening, widening and upgrading of the inner and outer roads in the city. Local residents are, however, pained to see how mercilessly the greenery of the city is being murdered. More than 1,500 full-grown trees in different parts of the city are being cut under the project to revamp the road network. The project is being undertaken by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) after getting nod at its third meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in June, GMADA Chief Administrator Vivek Partap Singh told Newsline. "Someone please relieve my anguish, tell me why are they felling trees in dozens beyond YPS chowk,' one such nature-loving resident Dr Rajan Chugh asked Newsline through SMS today morning. GMADA authorities reason that without cutting trees, the revamp of road network is not possible. To compensate the major loss to green cover, GMADA, however, plans to plant fresh saplings on the sides of revamped roads. As per the plan, Chandigarh via Mohali will get a direct road link to National Highway-1 while the peripheral roads crossing through different sectors in Mohali will be constructed, strengthened, widened and upgraded. GMADA has already invited tenders on post-qualification instead of pre-qualification criteria for the work involving expenditure of several crores of rupees. As suggested by Jurong International consultants from Singapore, who were undertaking master planning of Greater Mohali, GMADA was upgrading, strengthening and constructing the missing link of road dividing Sectors 55/54, 58/59, 73/72, 74/75, 90/91 and 93/94 on priority as this road directly leads to NH-1 in Fatehgarh Sahib and Sirhind. Since it would be a vital link between Chandigarh and Punjab, the matter has been taken up with the Chandigarh Administration to complete the missing portion of the road in Chandigarh territory to make the road through. Aimed at creating direct road access to the industrial town and ease traffic flow on the existing road network, the widening and upgrading of this road from Chandigarh-Mohali boundary to junction of Sectors 74/75 and 90/91 will be taken up in this financial year along with acquisition of land for the balance portion from junction of Sectors 74/75, 90/91 to junction Sectors 112/113 near railway line as per the Mohali Master Plan. Almost 405 full grown trees were under axe for making the land possible for this road widening. The construction of the balance portion of land would begin after acquisition of the land. For better response for the sale of land in Sector 62, which is being developed as Mohali's city centre, and improvement of traffic circulation system, the peripheral roads of Sector 62 are being upgraded and strengthened. For this, 303 full grown trees are being cut. Besides, 717 full grown trees are being axed for the already approved 200 feet wide road from Sector 73/74 to Sector 66/67/80/81 to provide direct road link to the upcoming international airport from Kharar and to connect NH-21 with NH-64. Also being taken up is the widening of road from the Border Road Task Force (BRTF) site in Sector 48 to railway line in Sector 65. This road will be widened 200 feet for connecting it with National Highway-21 near Desumajra village via Sectors 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73. It would connect the upcoming Express Highway in Sector 66 and would be the main approach road to the upcoming international airport from Chandigarh and Punjab.