Environmentalists heave a sigh of relief  

 ekalavya mallepalli I hyderabad

The National Green Tribunal’s Southern Bench in Chennai on Wednesday passed a historic order that ensures the preservation of the iconic banyan trees along the Chevella–Moinabad stretch of National Highway 163. After nearly six years of activism, advocacy, and legal battles, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has committed to saving 765 banyans in their original location, while shifting about 130 trees only a few meters away within the Right of Way.

For nearly a century, these majestic banyans have stood as a living heritage of Telangana’s past, dating back to the Nizam era. The Rs 1000 crore NH-163 expansion project will now integrate nearly 900 banyans into its design. Originally, the plan had proposed the removal or translocation of over 700 trees, leaving only 200 untouched. With the revised alignment, 765 banyans will remain in situ, while the remaining 130 will be carefully translocated within the ROW, ensuring their preservation. Nearly 50 additional banyans outside the Mudimiyal reserve forest will also remain untouched.

The Tree Protection Committee and the Telangana Forest Department have identified 415 additional large trees, including rain trees and tamarind, that will benefit from the revised alignment. NHAI has agreed to retain these wherever possible. 

Importantly, the translocation model has been changed: instead of moving trees to Mudimiyal, they will now be shifted only a few meters away, allowing for easier monitoring and upkeep for up to seven years.

Environmental campaigners hailed the decision as a victory. Natasha Ramarathnam, a leading voice in the Save Banyans of Chevella movement, described it as a historic win for activists nationwide. “Road bhi. Jhad bhi,” she said, emphasizing the coexistence of infrastructure and ecology. Asiya Khan, another prominent campaigner, expressed gratitude to supporters, saying, “the National Green Tribunal’s final order is in favour of the Chevella Banyans. We are happy. Thank you everyone for your support. It meant a lot.”

The Nature Lovers of Hyderabad, petitioners in the case, also confirmed that NHAI has agreed to include locally sourced native species in its compensatory afforestation plan. Campaigners expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Anumula Revanth Reddy and Parigi MLA T. Ram Mohan Reddy for their role in bringing the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.

The judgment comes shortly after a tragic accident on November 3, 2025, along the same Chevella–Hyderabad highway, where a gravel-laden tipper truck collided head-on with a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation bus near Indirareddy Nagar, killing 19 people and injuring several others.

The NGT’s order ensures that the expansion of NH-163 will proceed with strict environmental safeguards, while also underscoring the importance of balancing infrastructure development with public safety. The banyans, rooted in history since the Nizam era, will continue to stand as symbols of heritage and resilience along this vital corridor.