Over 400 trees felled for SCB elevated corridor in Hyderabad

More than 400 trees have been felled at Bollarum for the SCB elevated corridor being constructed by HMDA from Gymkhana Grounds to near Shamirpet. Residents and commuters said the trees had provided shade for decades and changed the area’s character.

Hyderabad: Hundreds of trees which stood majestically and provided shade for decades have been felled by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to make way for the SCB elevated corridor on Rajiv Rahadari (State Highway-1).

More than 400 trees were recently felled at Bollarum for an 18-km elevated corridor being constructed by HMDA from Gymkhana Grounds to Outer Ring Road near Shamirpet in Cantonment. Tree removal is continuing along most of the route as land acquisition proceeds and the road network from Shamirpet is widened.

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The Tree Protection Committee (TPC) inspected and enumerated trees along the entire stretch before construction of the elevated corridor, HMDA sources told Telangana Today. It subsequently recommended trees for felling and translocation.

“At Bollarum in Secunderabad Cantonment, the tree-felling has been carried out as part of the corridor work, clearing the alignment for the proposed elevated stretch,” the sources added.

Sources said tree transplantation and sapling planting would be carried out at a 1:4 ratio for trees cut to compensate for the loss of lush greenery. HMDA would preferably make these arrangements in vacant spaces on defence establishment premises to protect greenery.

The felled trees were moved from the premises at Bollarum in heavy trucks and lorries.

Some commuters and Bollarum residents said these trees along the stretch had provided shade and cool breezes for decades, particularly during severe summers. They said the area had become barren and lost its British-era character after HMDA chopped them off for infrastructure projects.

A city-based environmentalist said the trees had stood as ancient guardians of the roads, but were felled as engine noise replaced the decades-old rustle of leaves.