Karnataka: Permit sought to clear 48 neem trees for flyover at Devalapura junction in Mysuru

Mysuru: Officials of the PWD-National Highway, Mysuru division, have sought permission from the Forest department to clear about 10-year-old 48 Azadirachta indica species - neem - trees on the median on NH-275 -Mysuru ring road - to build a flyover at Devalapura cross junction.

Environmental Activists of Parisarakkaagi Naavu (People for Environment) organisation including Parashuramegowda, Leela Shivakumar, Gantaiah, Kiran Hadinaaru, Hosahundi Pradeep and others visited the spot on Sunday and contemplated on ways to save the trees. Some have proposed sustainable alternatives like translocation of the trees.

AEE of NH PWD H R Roopa informed that they have taken up the flyover project at a cost of Rs 20.8 crore for a stretch of 800 metre on the Ring Road.

Officials informed that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway has declared this stretch as a 'black spot' since there were seven fatal (deaths) and 15 non-fatal accidents in three years, up to 2024. As per IRC (Indian Roads Congress) standard, temporary correctional measures have already been taken up, including installing rumble strips and signboards. As a permanent measure, the flyover is being proposed. 

The officials said, "Mysuru Ring Road is over 45 metre wide - six lanes - with service road on both sides. It will be a six-lane flyover, 24.5 metre wide, covering 30 metre at ground. This junction near Uttanahalli connects to State Highway-210-Mysuru-Hadinaru road, leading to villages like Devalapura, Hadinaru, and Hadjana. While the ring road is a major connecting road to Mysuru, due to increased vehicular density, people from the villages are struggling at the junction". 

Officials informed that the Ring Road, which was under MUDA, was upgraded as NH and handed over to the PWD-NH Mysuru division in 2017. The trees in this segment were planted on the median before 2017. As a compensatory measure, they are paying money to plant 10 trees for one tree cleared, they said. 

"The Ring Road is now under NHAI - from November 19, 2025. Since the tender was already finalised - in July 2025 - PWD-NH is in the process of implementation. The tender has been handed over to STG Constructions and the work order has been issued, with a project period of 24 months," officials said. 

Public hearing

DCF, Mysuru territorial division, K Paramesha informed that they have directed the officials of the PWD-NH Mysuru division to conduct a public hearing, as per Section 8(3)(v11) of Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, and submit a report. 

Neem trees on the median of Mysuru Ring Road for 800 mtr stretch, near Devalapura cross junction, which are proposed to be cleared for construction of a flyover.

Hence the officials of the NH-PWD and Forest department are holding a public hearing near Devalapura junction on January 13, at 11 am. They have issued a notification, seeking objections if any, in writing to the Assistant Executive Engineer, NH-PWD Mysuru division, Nazarbad, via mail - [e-mail]. 

Sustainable alternatives

Environmentalist B R Guruprasad said, "PWD-NH Mysuru division has taken up the work at another black spot on KRS Road Junction of the Ring Road. Here, they are translocating 11 trees - four mahogany and seven neem trees - through skilled professionals from Tamil Nadu. They can consider a similar measure near Devalapura junction. It costs Rs 25,000 per tree".  

Founding working president of Mysore Grahakara Parishat Bhamy V Shenoy said, "Flyovers or widening of roads are not technical solutions for road traffic accidents. Rash driving, drunken driving, ignoring precautions, violating traffic rules, etc are the basic causes for mishaps. They should be addressed".

On the Ring Road, there is already a flyover at Hinkal junction, constructed by MUDA. The flyover at Bengaluru-Mysuru junction has been taken up by NHAI, as part of the Express Highway project. The DPR for eight more flyovers by NHAI is underway - Sathagalli-KSRTC depot; Narayana Hrudayalaya-Mosque junction; Bannur road junction; T  Narsipur junction; Nanjangud junction; Srirampura junction; Bogadi junction; and Vijayanagar 4th Block junction.