Environmental activists and residents protested in Hyderabad on April 26, 2026, against the removal of trees for infrastructure projects [2].
The demonstrations highlight a growing conflict between urban expansion and environmental preservation in Telangana. Critics argue that the loss of green cover in eco-sensitive zones threatens the city's long-term climate resilience.
Dr. Lubna Sarwath and other protesters targeted the construction of flyovers and underpasses near the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park [1]. The group alleged that more than 1,500 trees have been felled to make way for the works [1].
Protesters said the government failed to conduct a required environmental impact assessment before beginning the projects. They expressed concern that the mass relocation and cutting of trees would degrade the local ecosystem, a move they believe could lead to severe urban pollution.
One resident protester said, "We do not want Hyderabad to become another Delhi" [2].
Infrastructure work in the area has already impacted local transit. On April 6, 2026, authorities conducted a trial run of one-way traffic around the park to manage congestion caused by the ongoing flyover work [3].
A Hyderabad City Police spokesperson said, "The one-way traffic arrangement was implemented only on a trial basis on Sunday, and normal two-way traffic will resume from Monday" [3].
Despite the traffic trials, activists maintain that the project's environmental cost outweighs the benefits of reduced congestion. They continue to call for a halt to the felling of trees within the eco-sensitive zone [1, 2].
“"We do not want Hyderabad to become another Delhi."”
This conflict underscores the tension between Hyderabad's rapid infrastructure growth and its commitment to maintaining urban green lungs. By comparing the potential outcome to Delhi, protesters are referencing the severe air quality crises faced by India's capital, suggesting that removing protected canopy cover could trigger a similar environmental collapse in Telangana.
