High Court Halts Felling of 500 Trees for Tribune Flyover in Chandigarh
Fresh roadblock for Tribune flyover: High court stays felling of 500 trees
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has temporarily halted the felling of 500 trees for the Tribune flyover project in Chandigarh, which aims to alleviate traffic congestion at a busy intersection. The court's decision follows concerns raised in a public interest litigation regarding environmental impacts and the city's heritage character.
- 01The court's interim direction prevents the felling or lopping of trees until a final judgment is made.
- 02The Tribune flyover project has faced multiple delays since its foundation stone was laid in March 2019.
- 03The project cost has escalated from ₹137 crore (approximately $16.5 million USD) in 2019 to ₹214 crore (approximately $26 million USD) in 2025 due to delays.
- 04The petitioners argue that the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031 does not support flyover construction and calls for alternative traffic solutions.
- 05UT officials claim that over 1.43 lakh vehicles (143,000) use the Tribune Chowk daily, necessitating the flyover.
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stay on the felling of 500 trees for the Tribune flyover project in Chandigarh, which is intended to reduce traffic congestion at a major intersection. The court's decision came in response to a public interest litigation that raised environmental concerns, emphasizing the need to protect trees that have stood for over 50 years. The court noted that the issue of traffic congestion at Tribune Chowk persists, and the objections regarding delays were rejected. The flyover project has been plagued by delays since its inception, with the initial foundation stone laid on March 3, 2019. The cost of the project has significantly escalated from ₹137 crore (approximately $16.5 million USD) in 2019 to ₹214 crore (approximately $26 million USD) in 2025. The Chandigarh Master Plan 2031 does not endorse flyover constructions, prompting the petitioners to call for alternative traffic management solutions. Meanwhile, the Union Territory (UT) administration argues that the flyover is crucial for managing the 143,000 vehicles that traverse the area daily and has committed to afforestation efforts to compensate for the tree loss.
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The court's decision to halt tree felling could delay the flyover project further, impacting traffic management in Chandigarh.
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