Archive · 5 Nov 2025
1.24 Lakh Trees to Be Felled for MP Rail Project, Environmentalists Concerned
Imagine a train track in India needs to be made wider and better.
To do this, a lot of trees, about 1.24 lakh, growing in forests along the path will need to be cut down.
This is to build a new railway line that will help people travel faster between cities and connect different parts of the country.
However, people who care about nature are worried that cutting so many trees will harm the environment.
They are concerned about animals losing their homes, and about changes to rain and temperature.
The government says they have a plan to help.
They will plant even more trees in other places to make up for the ones that are cut.
They also plan to save some trees by building tunnels in hilly areas instead of cutting them.
The whole project is expected to be finished in a few years.
Approximately 1.24 lakh trees are slated for felling for the Mhow-Khandwa railway gauge conversion project in Madhya Pradesh.
Environmentalists have raised alarms about the adverse impacts on wildlife, climate, and the local environment.
The forest department plans to mitigate the damage by planting trees in twice the affected area and has received in-principle approval from the central government.
The project involves converting a narrow-gauge line to a broad-gauge line, creating a 156 km route intended to shorten travel distance and improve connectivity.
Work on the project is underway and is projected to be completed between 2027 and 2028.
- Who
- Forest department officials and environmentalists in Madhya Pradesh
- What
- A plan to fell 1.24 lakh trees for the Mhow-Khandwa railway gauge conversion project, raising environmental concerns.
- When
- Wednesday (reporting date), project likely to be completed by 2027-28
- Where
- Mhow-Sanawad section, passing through dense forests of Indore and Khargone districts in Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- To clear the way for the construction of a new, broader-gauge railway line, which aims to reduce travel distance between Indore and Mumbai and improve connectivity.
Environmental Concerns
Project Justification and Mitigation
Impact of Tree Felling
Environmental Concerns
Environmentalists warn of adverse impacts on wildlife, soil, moisture, rainfall, and temperature in Indore due to extensive tree felling in dense forests.
Project Justification and Mitigation
The forest department has a detailed mitigation plan to minimize adverse effects and will plant trees in twice the affected area to compensate for the environmental damage.
Scale of Tree Removal
Environmental Concerns
Claims of a 'large number' of trees being cut in dense forests of Choral and Mhow.
Project Justification and Mitigation
Officials estimate 1.24 lakh trees will be cut out of 1.41 lakh affected trees, with efforts to save remaining trees and potential savings through tunnel construction.
- Number of Trees to Be Felled
- 1.24 lakh
- Total Trees Affected
- 1.41 lakh
- Affected Forest Area
- 404 hectares (Indore), 46 hectares (Khargone)
- Forest Area for Tree Plantation
- 916 hectares (Dhar and Jhabua districts)
- Tree Plantation Density
- 1,000 trees per hectare
- Project
- Mhow-Khandwa gauge conversion project
- New Broad-Gauge Line Length
- 156 km
- Original Narrow-Gauge Line Length
- 118 km
- Estimated Completion Date
- 2027-28
