Blood on Road: Chevella MP blames Hyderabad-Bijapur Highway delay for deadly accident
Hyderabad: Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy blames the delay in the Hyderabad-Bijapur Highway as one reason behind the tragic accidents near Chevella where a truck mowed down a line of vegetable vendors, resulting in multiple fatalities on Monday.
A speeding truck plowed into about 50 roadside produce vendors. After hitting the vendors, the vehicle crashed into a tree, with the front severely damaged and the driver trapped. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Member of Parliament Chevella, addressed the incident on social media, expressing sympathy for the victims. He highlighted that the highway project, sanctioned in 2017, remained incomplete after seven years.
Taking to X(formerly Twitter), Chevella MP and BJP leader said, “I was in Parliament when I learned of the horrific accident near Chevella where a truck mowed down vegetable vendors along the Hyderabad Bijapur Highway, where work never started after 7 years. 4 died, 3 more seriously, 7 injured. My deepest sympathies to the family of Prem, Ramulu, and Sujatha. I hope the seriously injured recover.”
The central government fully funds the national highway project, while the state government is responsible for land acquisition and alignment. He noted that both the previous and current Telangana governments neglected the project. In another post, he explained, “The land acquisition and highway alignment is the state government’s responsibility. It is unfortunate that in 6.5 years of the previous Telangana government and one year of the present Telangana government, it was neglected. Due to improper alignment / land acquisition, the Banyan trees were the victims and there is a NGT case.”
The MP revealed that during a review with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials on November 18,work would finally commence. He identified delays in land acquisition and highway alignment as key challenges.
Recently, Vishweshwar Reddy requested details regarding the current status of construction work on the Hyderabad-Bijapur Highway (NH-163) between the Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA) to Manneguda and reasons for the delay.
In his reply, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari confirmed that the NH-163 four-laning work from Telangana Police Academy to Manneguda was awarded on March 17, 2022.
“The work delay was due to a stay order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Zone. NGT also directed an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study, which is complete, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has considered the Environmental clearance proposal. Meanwhile, another petition has been filed in NGT. The status on the matter has been submitted before NGT and the matter is presently sub-judice,” read Gadkari’s reply.
A National Green Tribunal (NGT) case concerning environmental concerns, particularly the potential removal of Banyan trees, significantly impeded the project's progression. The NGT mandated an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study before proceeding with the highway expansion.
I was in the Parliament this evening, when I got to know of the horrific accident near Chevella in which a truck mowed down a line of vegetable vendors along the Hyderabad Bijapur Highway where the works never started even after 7 long years. 4 died, 3 more serious 7 and injured… pic.twitter.com/7v4MbG249v
— Konda Vishweshwar Reddy (@KVishReddy) December 2, 2024
What is the case?
The NGT complaint stated that the Banyan tree, symbolizing longevity, is at risk of being cut for widening the Moinabad-Manneguda stretch by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). To save over 1,036 old Banyan trees and 9,000other trees, the applicants filed an application against widening NH 163 by cutting Banyan trees along the road or in the alternative the NHAI to obtain Environmental Clearance under Section 7(f) of the EIA Notification, 2006 for the proposed Hyderabad-Manneguda project.
NHAI reply
The NHAI has requested permission from the forest authorities to fell trees. The consultant explored various alignments and the present alignment is the most feasible one approved by the Competent Authority, NHAI in 2017. There are 2500 trees in non-forest locations and 688 Banyan trees enumerated between Moinabad and Manneguda.
“During construction, trees may be felled in bare minimum depending upon the site requirement duly considering the road safety. Tree relocation will be done to save trees in the stretch, examined before the work start. Only bare minimum trees will be proposed for felling as necessitated, examined by the expert,” read NHAI’s reply to NGT. The report states approximately 53,000 trees will be planted, with 40,000 for avenue and 13,000 for median plantation.
NHAI stated it is mandatory to convert the Two lane to Four lane as the national highways capacity must be upgraded. The four lane highway should already be constructed by the time the road’s threshold capacity is reached.
In support of his arguments, NHAI said, Passenger car units (PCU) exceeded the 10,000 per day threshold, increasingfrom 10,355 in 2015 to 14,470 in 2020. The stretch was identified as accident-prone, with 240 accidents in 2021, 21 existing culverts needing reconstruction and 10 vehicular underpasses and 8 minor bridges proposed.
What did NGT say?
The NGT recognized the challenge of balancing infrastructure development with environmental conservation. The tribunal directed NHAI to conduct a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment to minimize tree loss.
In view of the facts, there’s growing awareness of the need to balance road expansion and environmental conservation. There cannot be any debate on preserving the environment and maintaining ecological balance.
“Compensatory afforestation and reforestation to offset tree loss due to road expansion cannot be the wise option. We must balance between development and conservation for creating a greater,bigger and more sustainable future. So,authorities should explore alternative roads and conduct thorough Environmental Impact Assessments with experts and stakeholders to identify less harmful options,” observed NGT.
While we appreciate the public interest project, it could not be stopped or delayed, considering the rare existence of over800 Banyan Trees and thousands of other trees. An Environmental Impact Assessment is suggested, and the road expansion project may proceed after the EIA study, ordered by NGT.
The NHAI is directed to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study to minimize tree loss before proceeding. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was instructed to issue Terms of Reference for the EIA and complete the process within four months.
