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After days of protests over the planned felling of thousands of trees, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has stopped the practice at seven turns in Dehradun.
A young protestor holds a placard during a protest against felling of trees at Seven Turn in Dehradun. (Photo: Instagram)
Growing public outrage over the planned felling of thousands of trees in Dehradun’s Saat Mod forest area has prompted Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to intervene.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister announced that felling of trees for the Bhaniyawala-Rishikesh four/six lane highway project will remain suspended until the government holds fresh discussions with residents, environmentalists, experts and other stakeholders.
Sharing the decision on the issue, Dhami said development remains a priority but cannot come at the cost of public sentiment, environmental concerns and local interests. He directed officials to resume consultations and said the project would move ahead only after a consensus is reached.
Company-Rishikesh Four/Six Lane Project is being discussed and suggestions have been taken up by many citizens, environment lovers and local people for the last few days. This project is a critical infrastructure of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)…
-Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) 18 July 2026
The move came after days of protests in which environmental groups and residents demanded that authorities reconsider the large-scale removal of trees from one of Dehradun’s most prime forest areas.
Seven Modes, Green Gateway of Dehradun
Saat Mor, literally translated as “Seven Bends”, is a forested area on National Highway-7 between Bhaniyawala and Rishikesh. Lined with mature Sal trees, the route serves as one of the major entry points to Dehradun and passes through ecologically rich landscapes.
The area is part of an important wildlife habitat and falls along an elephant movement corridor, making it environmentally important. Apart from elephants, the forests support many species of birds, deer, monkeys and other wildlife.
For locals, Seven Turns has become much more than just a road. It represents one of the city’s remaining green buffers at a time when rapid urbanization and infrastructure projects continue to reshape the Doon Valley.
Highway project behind the controversy
At the center of the debate is the 20-km-long Bhaniyawala-Jolly Grant-Rishikesh highway widening project, which is being built by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at an estimated cost of Rs 743 crore.
According to NHAI, the existing two-lane road carries around 18,500 vehicles daily, with traffic expected to increase due to tourism, airport connectivity and Char Dham Yatra.
The authority says widening the road will reduce congestion, improve road geometry, reduce accidents and make travel safer for residents and visitors.
seven mod project
Bhaniyawala: Jolly Grant Rishikesh section on National Highway-7.
Dehradun Project Length: About 20 km.
Project Cost: ₹743 crore.
Execution Model: Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
Trees affected: 4,369.
Proposal to cut trees: 3,605.
Trees proposed for transplant: 754.
Daily traffic on existing road: Approximately 18,456 vehicles.
Scheme of Elephant Underpass: About 3.5 Km.
Compensatory Afforestation: 40 hectares of non-forest land transferred to the forest department.
Main Objective: Improving connectivity between Dehradun, Rishikesh and Jolly Grant Airport, making transportation easier for Char Dham Yatra.
When 4,369 trees became a flashpoint
The project was widely criticized after plans to remove 4,369 trees from the forest area were revealed. Of these, 3,605 are proposed to be amputated, while 754 will be transplanted.
The announcement sparked protests from residents, environmentalists and civil society groups, who argued that losing thousands of mature sal trees would permanently alter the area’s fragile ecosystem.
The protests gained momentum during Uttarakhand’s annual Harela festival, traditionally dedicated to trees and environmental protection. Instead of celebrating, activists celebrated “Kala Harela” by gathering at seven turns to protest against felling of trees and demand alternative solutions.
A forest, an elephant corridor and growing environmental concerns
Environmentalists say the issue is much more than the number of trees being cut.
This forest is part of an important elephant corridor connecting wildlife habitats in the region. Activists fear widening the highway could fragment habitats, increase human-animal conflict and affect the movement of elephants and other wildlife.
However, NHAI says that several mitigation measures have been incorporated in the project based on the recommendations of Uttarakhand Forest Department, WWF-India and Wildlife Institute of India.
These include a 3.5 km elephant underpass, dedicated wildlife crossings, box culverts and pipe culverts to facilitate the movement of animals while reducing road deaths.
Can tree transplantation replace a mature forest?
The biggest point of controversy is that the government plans to transplant hundreds of trees instead of cutting them.
However, environmental groups remain unconvinced, pointing to Uttarakhand’s previous transplant efforts, which they say have largely failed.
According to Down to Earth, more than 900 trees transplanted during the Sahastradhara Road widening project in 2022 failed to survive, with many trees drying up at a rehabilitation site near the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun. The site has since been described by campaigners as a “graveyard of trees”.
More than just trees: what can be lost at turning seven
For scientists and conservationists, the debate is not just about the number of trees being cut, but about the loss of entire forest ecosystems built over decades.
The tall Sal trees on the Seven Bends form a dense canopy that regulates local temperatures, stores significant amounts of carbon and helps retain moisture in the soil. Their deep roots stabilize the ground, reduce soil erosion and play a vital role in groundwater recharging, a vital function in the Himalayan foothills.
These forests also support a web of life that extends far beyond large mammals. Birds, insects, reptiles, fungi and countless microorganisms depend on mature sal forests for food, shelter and reproduction. Once such an ecosystem is fragmented, experts say it may take decades for ecological functions to recover, even if fresh plantings are made elsewhere.
According to Down to Earth, concerns over the project are also being shaped by Uttarakhand’s broader development trajectory. An RTI cited by the publication found that more than 46,000 hectares of forest land has been diverted for roads, mining and other projects since the formation of the state, with Dehradun accounting for nearly 47 per cent of the total forest diversion, despite occupying only six per cent of the state’s geographical area.
For many environmentalists, Seven Mods became more than a local protest; It is a test case for how Uttarakhand balances infrastructure expansion with the protection of its remaining natural forests.
what happens next?
For now, the felling of trees has been stopped, but the future of the project remains uncertain. With legal proceedings continuing, environmental groups seeking alternatives and the government reopening talks with stakeholders, the SAT Mod controversy has turned into a larger debate on how Uttarakhand should balance infrastructure development with the protection of its forests and wildlife.
This reflects a major challenge facing the Himalayan states: how to improve roads, tourism and connectivity without destroying the forests and wildlife that define the region. Whether the current standstill leads to redesign, new safety measures or simply unavoidable delays, the outcome could set an important precedent for future infrastructure projects across Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has stopped the cutting of trees for the Rishikesh-Bhaniyawala highway project. The moratorium will remain in effect until fresh discussions are held with residents, environmentalists, experts and other stakeholders.
Dehradun, India, India
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