High Court Halts Mohali Airport Road Roundabouts Over Tree Removal Dispute
The ambitious plan to construct three modern roundabouts on the bustling Airport Road (PR7) in Mohali has encountered a significant legal obstacle. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stepped in to examine the contentious proposal, which involves the felling of 251 trees to make way for the traffic infrastructure upgrades.
Traffic Safety Versus Environmental Preservation
According to submissions made before the court, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the Punjab state government have emphasized the urgent need for these roundabouts. The three critical junctions identified for redesign include:
- The Sector 67-68-60-79-80 intersection
- The Sector 68-69-78-79 crossing
- The crucial Sohana junction
These locations have been specifically targeted due to their notorious reputation as accident black spots, with authorities citing increasing traffic volume, persistent congestion, and frequent accidents that endanger motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
The Tree Removal Controversy
Mohali Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal revealed that the road widening and rotary construction projects would necessitate the removal of 251 trees across the three sites. Shockingly, 57 trees have already been cut down with proper authorization from the forest department:
- 19 trees at the Sohana junction
- 16 trees near the mall junction
- 22 trees at the Sector 78-79 junction
GMADA presented this information during the high court hearing, after which the bench reserved its orders on the matter. The authority argued that the roundabouts are essential for easing traffic flow, enhancing overall safety, and reducing fatalities on this dangerous stretch of road.
Compensatory Measures and Legal Intervention
In an attempt to address environmental concerns, GMADA informed the court that land in New Chandigarh has been earmarked for compensatory afforestation as per established protocols. The authority has even proposed a five-times compensatory plantation scheme to offset the ecological impact.
However, the High Court has taken a firm stance by imposing a stay on any further tree felling activities. The court has appointed a special committee to conduct thorough inspections of all three proposed construction sites. This development comes as part of an ongoing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning deforestation and the preservation of urban green cover in the region.
Broader Legal Context and Environmental Concerns
The court's intervention follows its December 24 directive from last year, which explicitly barred the cutting of trees for development projects without obtaining prior permission. This ruling directly applies to the current Airport Road project as well.
While the administration maintains that the infrastructure upgrades are absolutely essential for decongesting Airport Road and improving commuter safety, environmental advocacy groups have raised serious alarms about the potential devastation to Mohali's precious green cover. The tension between urban development needs and environmental conservation has created a complex legal battleground that the High Court must now navigate carefully.
The special committee's findings and the court's eventual decision will determine whether Mohali's traffic safety improvements will proceed or if environmental preservation will take precedence in this high-stakes urban planning dilemma.
