Candlelight protest held against destruction of KBR Park

Metro India News | Hyderabad

On 3rd May 2026, hundreds of citizens assembled at KBR National Park for a powerful candlelight vigil, calling out what they described as the systematic and unlawful destruction of the city’s green lungs under the cover of darkness. Holding candles in silence, the gathering was a stark visual protest against what participants termed as “green murder”—trees being cut in the dead of night while due process is bypassed and public scrutiny is avoided.

The citizens issued a clear and uncompromising demand: Stop all ongoing work immediately. They demanded that no activity must continue unless a lawful “Environmental Impact Assessment” is conducted, an independent third party transparent traffic study is placed in the public domain, all environmental and statutory clearances are secured, zonal plans and Detailed Project Reports are disclosed and the legally mandated public hearing is held. With the matter currently sub judice, any continued work is being viewed as a direct affront to the rule of law.

This is the third major protest within a single week, drawing hundreds each time – cutting across age groups and backgrounds. From young students to senior citizens, Hyderabad has shown that this is no isolated concern but a city-wide resistance. Many present have been part of this movement for nearly a decade now, standing firm in their commitment to protect what they consider irreplaceable.

Citizens speak

Sreecharan Gullapalli, Active mobility practitioner said “We are repeating the same planning mistakes - prioritising flyovers over sustainable mobility. This approach has failed in every major city in the world. Why are we pushing solutions we already know do not work?.”

Ambica Srimal, Creative Director who has been actively involved in this campaign from the very beginning, said: “This is not just about trees. This is about governance. When decisions are made without transparency, without consultation, and without accountability, citizens are left with no choice but to resist.”