In a landmark environmental ruling, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has cleared a revised plan for the expansion of National Highway-163 that ensures the preservation of most of Chevella’s century-old banyan trees. The decision marks a rare alignment of infrastructure growth and ecological preservation a significant precedent for urban development across India.
The tribunal’s decision, following years of hearings and protests, directs the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to retain nearly 765 banyan trees about 85% of those lining the Moinabad–Manneguda stretch within the redesigned road alignment. The remaining 150 trees will be translocated a few metres away, ensuring minimal ecological disruption.
An environmental petitioner involved in the case said the NGT’s verdict reaffirmed the idea that “development must not erase history and ecology.” The banyans, some over a hundred years old, have long been a defining feature of the Chevella landscape, offering shade, habitat, and a visual identity deeply rooted in community memory.The NHAI had initially proposed a widening plan that threatened over 900 banyans, sparking widespread concern among citizens and environmentalists. In 2021, the citizen collective Save Banyans of Chevella filed a petition demanding a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA).
The tribunal, after reviewing the EIA and multiple revisions, found that the original design failed to adequately address the ecological loss and ordered a realignment.
The updated plan now weaves the trees into the road corridor itself a model that, experts say, could reshape how India integrates heritage trees into modern infrastructure projects. “It sets a new benchmark for green highways,” said an urban ecologist, adding that such approaches could help Indian cities retain their natural heritage even as they urbanise rapidly.
The Chevella banyans are more than trees; they represent resilience in the face of India’s accelerating road expansion. The NGT’s verdict highlights a shifting balance in infrastructure policy where environmental preservation is no longer seen as an obstacle, but as a necessary design principle. As Hyderabad continues to grow, the ruling is expected to influence future project designs, encouraging road agencies to incorporate existing green cover into their plans. Environmental advocates hope this model will be adopted across states to protect native species and mitigate heat island effects.The Chevella decision, thus, goes beyond one stretch of road. It is a reminder that sustainable urbanisation is possible when ecological and civic priorities intersect offering a hopeful precedent for cities striving to build responsibly without erasing their natural legacies.
Hyderabad Tribunal Approves Revised Highway Plan Saving 765 Historic Chevella Banyan Trees
