Stay on tree-felling at Bhopal’s Ayodhya Bypass to continue:Thousands of trees were to be cut for 10-lane highway, environmentalists launched a ‘Chipko movement’

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered that the stay on tree felling along Bhopal’s Ayodhya Bypass will continue for now. During a hearing held on Thursday, the tribunal directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to submit relevant documents within two days. The case pertains to the cutting of thousands of trees for the expansion of the Ayodhya Bypass into a 10-lane road. While a large number of trees have already been felled, the NGT is currently hearing petitions related to the remaining trees. Environmentalists are closely monitoring the proceedings and have even launched protests, including a “Chipko movement,” to save the trees. Project details: 10-lane Ayodhya bypass NHAI is widening the Ayodhya Bypass stretch from Asaram Square to Ratnagiri Tiraha at an estimated cost of ₹836.91 crore. The project spans 16 kilometers and involves the cutting of a total of 7,871 trees, many of which are between 40 and 80 years old. In December, nearly half of these trees were cut within just three days, triggering widespread protests. Following this, the matter reached the NGT, which imposed a ban on tree felling until January 8. Thursday’s hearing was held in connection with this order. NGT cites pending Supreme Court appeal While hearing the case Nitin Saxena vs NHAI, the NGT clarified that it would not proceed further until the status of a pending appeal in the Supreme Court becomes clear. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner, Harpreet Singh Gupta, informed the tribunal that NHAI had challenged the NGT’s December 22, 2025 order in the Supreme Court. Citing judicial propriety, the petitioner requested that the matter be kept in abeyance until the apex court delivers its decision.
In response, NHAI’s counsel claimed orally that the appeal had been withdrawn from the Supreme Court. However, no documentary proof was presented. Taking a strict stance, the NGT directed NHAI to submit official documents within two days to confirm the withdrawal. The tribunal made it clear that if the appeal has not been withdrawn, the NGT will not hear the matter until the Supreme Court decides the case. Stay on tree felling continues Petitioner Nitin Saxena said that the interim stay order issued on December 22 remains in force. This has provided immediate relief, as the ban on felling the remaining thousands of trees will continue for now. Central project, trees felled via municipal corporation The Ayodhya Bypass widening is a central government project. As per the agreement between NHAI and the executing agency, obtaining all statutory approvals—including for tree felling—was NHAI’s responsibility.
Although permissions were expected by August 11, the issue reached the NGT before work could formally begin. In a separate matter, the NGT later ruled that permission from a high-level committee is mandatory for cutting more than 25 trees in urban areas. Following this, a high-level committee chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) Sanjay Shukla was constituted. In its third meeting, the committee approved the tree felling. Soon after clearance was granted, cutting began on December 21. Rapid felling despite legal challenge As tree cutting continued on December 22, petitioner Nitin Saxena again approached the NGT. However, felling reportedly continued until the afternoon of December 24. The NGT subsequently ordered a halt on tree cutting until January 8, but by then, more than half of the trees had already been cut.
Environmentalists have now intensified their campaign to save the remaining trees. Environmentalists suggest alternatives Environmental activists, including Subhash C. Pandey, Umashankar Tiwari, petitioner Nitin Saxena, Suyash Kulshreshtha, Rashid Noor, and others, have accused NHAI of destroying greenery. They argue that instead of a 10-lane road, NHAI could have opted for an elevated corridor or limited the project to six lanes.
They also pointed out that many of the trees being cut are 40 to 80 years old, with some estimated to be even older. NHAI’s stand: Reports submitted, plantation promised NHAI sources claim that all committee reports related to tree felling were submitted, but the NGT allegedly did not consider them, leading to the stay order. NHAI maintains that it will present these reports during the hearing.
The authority has also claimed that it will plant 81,000 saplings in place of the 7,871 trees felled. Congress protests tree felling The Congress party has also protested against the tree cutting. District Congress president Praveen Saxena, Ravindra Sahu Jhumarwala, and other leaders staged demonstrations wearing masks. Environmentalist Umashankar Tiwari said several of the trees being cut are 80 to 100 years old, and even if new saplings are planted, it will take decades for them to replace the lost green cover. NHAI’s compensatory plantation plan According to NHAI’s plan: The matter will now hinge on NHAI’s submission of documents regarding the status of its Supreme Court appeal, after which further action will be decided.