NGT halts tree felling for Hebbal Short Tunnel Project in Bengaluru

19 Oct 2026, 03:19 PM 4 min read

NGT halts tree felling for Hebbal Short Tunnel Project in Bengaluru left Short tunnel project at Hebbal in Bengaluru. A public notice issued by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) refers to the ‘removal’ of trees along Hebbal Main Road for the 2.3-km twin tunnel project. SUDHAKARA JAIN The Hindu SUDHAKARA JAIN KARNATAKA: BENGALURU: 27/08/2026: Picture for Spotlight story about Short Tunnel project at Hebbal in Bengaluru on Thursday 27 August 2026.

PHOTO: SUDHAKARA JAIN / THE HINDU. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for December 15 Bengaluru The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday issued an order restraining the felling of trees for the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project until the hearing is completed and the matter is disposed of. BDA seeks nod to fell 1,128 trees for short tunnel in Bengaluru, GBA invites objections storyline 1 The NGT order states: “There should not be any cutting of trees, be it in any area of the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project till the matter is disposed of.” The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for December 15.

This also means that the BDA cannot cut any trees along the Hebbal Short Tunnel alignment till mid-December. The order followed a petition filed by a civic group, subsequent to the NGT taking suo motu cognisance of The Hindu’s report on the Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) proposal to remove trees for the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project. The report, dated September 24, was titled “Over 70 tree species among 1,128 marked for felling for Hebbal tunnel project in Bengaluru”.

Over 70 tree species among 1,128 marked for felling for Hebbal tunnel project in Bengaluru storyline 1 In the suo motu case, the Karnataka government submitted a representation stating that writ petitions concerning the matter were pending before the High Court, where the Advocate-General had given an undertaking that no trees would be cut until the matter was disposed of. Subsequently, the NGT disposed of the original suo motu case.

However, Aranya, Parisara Mathu Havamana Badalavane, Sangha, Mangaluru, noticed a discrepancy and filed another application seeking a restraining order. The group brought to the NGT’s notice that the undertaking given by the Advocate-General before the Karnataka High Court, as stated during the suo motu hearing, pertained to a different area — Lalbagh — though it was for the same project.

“This original application, in general, covers the entire project and felling of trees for the same,” the NGT order said. Counsel representing the government also clarified that the undertaking pertained to a different area. Subsequently, the NGT passed the Friday order. #THtalksBengaluru | N.A. Haris and the BDA’s vision for Bengaluru #THtalksBengaluru | N.A. Haris and the BDA’s vision for Bengaluru A package of stories featuring Mr.

Haris’s responses to readers’ questions on the environmental impact of the short tunnel project, recurring civic issues at layouts developed by the BDA, and the progress of long-pending traffic corridors to decongest the city. #THtalksBengaluru | N.A. Haris and the BDA’s vision for Bengaluru casefilepackage 1 Meanwhile, BDA Chairman N. A. Haris, in a conversation with The Hindu, said that the BDA does not intend to fell all 1,128 trees but instead plans to translocate 1,072 trees and axe the remaining ones.

However, the public notice issued by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) refers to the “removal” of trees along Hebbal Main Road for the 2.3-km twin tunnel project. Hebbal short tunnel: 1,072 trees to be transplanted, 56 to be felled, says BDA Chairman storyline 1 On the other hand, civic groups opposing the short tunnel project argue that the BDA cannot announce such a decision, as it can be taken only by the Tree Expert Committee.