MUMBAI: A group of activists who have been raising their voice against the felling of trees for the upcoming metro car shed in Mumbai's Aarey Colony has now knocked the doors of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In a letter to the Japanese Prime Minister, they asked him to intervene to scrap the project. 

The Rs. 23,136 crore Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro project is partly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The plan to build the car shed in Aarey, one of Mumbai's prime green tracts, has been criticized by activists and residents.

The Maharashtra government has expressed its support for the project, which involves cutting of more than 2,600 trees over a 30-hectare plot in the area.

The letter has been written by Avkash Jadhav, a professor at St Xavier''s College and several activists. It has been translated into Japanese by an NGO.

"A couple of days ago, I got the final translated version of the letter citing 10 crucial points that were not shared with JICA at the time of the presentation made for the Aarey car shed. After translating it into Japanese, we have sent a letter to PM Abe through India Post," said Jalpesh Mehta of Empower Foundation.

Seeking a meeting with officials at the consulate general of Japan, the group said a copy of the letter sent to PM Abe will be handed over to them.

Jadhav had recently asked British adventurer Bear Grylls to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.