Archive · 4 Nov 2025
Hyderabad Highway Expansion Resumes After NGT Lifts Stay Amid Tree Concerns
A highway near Hyderabad that has been dangerous and caused many accidents is finally going to be made wider.
For many years, this expansion was stopped because there were many old, special banyan trees along the road.
People who love nature didn't want the trees to be cut down, and they went to a special court called the NGT.
The court agreed and put a stop to the work.
However, engineers came up with a new plan to build the wider road.
This new plan involves moving some trees to new spots and keeping most of them right where they are by changing how the road is built in those areas.
The court looked at this new plan and decided it was good enough to protect the trees.
So, now the work can start to make the road safer for everyone, and the trees will be protected too.
The expansion of a 46-km stretch of the Hyderabad-Vijayapura Highway (NH-163) from Chevella to TSPA Junction is set to resume after the NGT lifted a stay order.
The project, aimed at improving safety on an accident-prone route, was stalled for over eight years due to opposition from environmental activists concerned about felling over 850 banyan trees.
A fatal accident on the highway on the same day as the NGT's final hearing highlighted the urgency for road expansion.
Activists have accepted a revised NHAI plan to preserve approximately 765 banyan trees in situ and translocate about 130 trees, integrating them into the road project.
The NHAI has sanctioned Rs 900 crore for the four-laning project, which has a two-year completion deadline.
- Who
- National Green Tribunal (NGT), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), environmental activists (Save Chevella Banyans), local politicians (Kale Yadaiah, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy)
- What
- Road expansion of a 46-km stretch of the Hyderabad-Vijayapura Highway (NH-163) to a four-lane road was stalled for years due to a legal dispute over the felling of banyan trees, and is now set to resume after the NGT considered a revised plan.
- When
- The NGT's final hearing was on the same day as a fatal accident (Monday morning, October 31st, inferred); the stay was vacated after the NGT was satisfied with the revised plan, allowing work to resume.
- Where
- The 46-km stretch of NH-163 between Chevella and the Telangana Police Academy (TSPA Junction) near Hyderabad.
- Why
- To enhance road safety and reduce accidents on a highly accident-prone, narrow, single-lane road, while also addressing environmental concerns regarding the preservation of heritage banyan trees.
Environmental Activists
NHAI/Government
Preservation of Chevella Banyans
Environmental Activists
The activists initially opposed the felling of over 850 ancient banyan trees, leading to a legal battle and NGT stay orders. They accepted a modified NHAI proposal to translocate about 130 trees and preserve 765 in situ, with suggestions for public monitoring and protection of other large trees.
NHAI/Government
Proposed widening of the highway for safety and to reduce accidents, initially facing opposition due to the necessity of removing trees. The NHAI submitted a revised plan to translocate fewer trees and preserve the majority in their original locations.
Highway Development and Safety
Environmental Activists
Sought to protect significant natural heritage and questioned the environmental clearance process regarding tree felling.
NHAI/Government
Emphasized the need for road expansion to prevent fatalities on a highly accident-prone stretch, highlighting that much of NH-163 is already four-laned.
- Highway Name
- Hyderabad-Bijapur National Highway 163 (NH-163)
- Affected Stretch
- 46 km from Chevella to Telangana Police Academy (TSPA Junction)
- Banyan Trees
- Over 850 'Chevella Banyans' planted during Nizam's rule
- Number of Trees to be Translocated
- Approximately 130
- Number of Trees to be Preserved In Situ
- Approximately 765
- Project Cost
- Rs 900 crore
- Original Number of Trees to be Felled (estimated by activists)
- Hundreds
