Punjab and Haryana High Court Stays Tree Felling for Tribune Chowk Flyover, Calls Move Against Chandigarh’s Heritage Character

May 15, 2026 : The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday stayed the felling of trees for the proposed Tribune Chowk flyover project in Chandigarh, putting the controversial development work on hold until further orders.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjeev Berry observed that the matter had already been heard extensively and was likely to be decided at an early date. In the meantime, the Bench held that it would be appropriate to restrain the Chandigarh Administration and other respondents from cutting any mango trees or other trees located at Tribune Chowk.

The court clarified that the interim protection granted to the trees would remain subject to the final outcome of the petition pending before it. During the proceedings, the Bench also reportedly described the move as being against Chandigarh’s heritage character.

The petition challenging the flyover project argues that the Chandigarh Master Plan 2031, notified under the Capital of Punjab Act, 1952 and the Punjab New Capital (Periphery) Control Act, 1952, is a statutory document that does not recommend construction of flyovers within the city. According to the petitioners, the Master Plan instead mandates that alternative traffic management measures should be explored before undertaking such infrastructure projects.

The petitioners further contended that the Department of Urban Planning had initially opposed the flyover proposal and had maintained that the Master Plan did not permit such construction within the city.