MP High Court Stays Felling of 250,000 Trees for Rail Project
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued an interim stay order to halt the massive felling of over 250,000 trees in the Choral forest region. This judicial intervention comes as a significant roadblock for the construction of a new railway track between Simrol and Barwah, a vital segment of the ongoing Indore-Khandwa broad gauge railway line project.
Environmental Crisis in Choral Forest
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Alpesh Yashwant Kokje and Justice Vinay Saraf, delivered the order on October 16, 2026. The court has formally issued notices to both the Forest Department and railway authorities to address the ecological concerns raised in a petition filed by Karan Bairagi, represented by advocate Manish Yadav.
The scale of the proposed deforestation has become a central point of contention. While earlier estimates in February 2026 suggested that approximately 120,000 trees might be cleared, recent data revealed that the number had surged to a staggering 250,000 trees.
The Trade-off: Speed vs. Sustainability
During the hearing, the court scrutinized the necessity of such extensive tree removal. It was noted that a previously proposed alternative railway design would have impacted only between 40,000 and 50,000 trees. However, authorities had discarded that design due to concerns that it would increase travel time between the Simrol and Barwah sections by 30 to 40 minutes.
The petitioner argued that prioritizing travel speed over environmental stability would lead to catastrophic consequences. The destruction of the forest threatens the natural habitats of several wildlife species, including:
- Tigers
- Leopards
- Deer
- Foxes
Furthermore, the petition warned that losing this forest cover would contribute to rising temperatures in Indore and destroy the natural climatic distinction between the Malwa and Nimar regions.
Compensatory Measures and Legal Timeline
Although the Forest Department has proposed compensatory afforestation in the Dhar and Jhabua districts to mitigate the loss, the court has prioritized the immediate preservation of the existing forest ecosystem.
The project had previously received an in-principle clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests on March 14, 2026, for the use of 454 hectares of forest land.
Railway authorities, including the Ratlam division of Western Railway, have previously indicated that final central clearances are required to complete the gauge conversion work between Mhow and Omkareshwar Road. The court is set to hear the matter again on November 30, 2026.