The Uttarakhand government has temporarily halted the felling of 4,369 trees for the proposed Rishikesh highway widening project following widespread public protests led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's decision to retreat on the project.

National Highway Authority of India announced on July 7 it is widening existing roads in a 20 km stretch connecting Dehradun airport to Rishikesh from current lanes to four or six lanes. Project requires cutting more than 4,400 trees and 20 hectares of reserved forest according to 2021 proposal to ministry of environment, forest and climate change. Project aims to strengthen connectivity between Dehradun, Jolly Grant Airport, and Rishikesh, supporting tourism and Char Dham Yatra. Delhi-Dehradun expressway was inaugurated earlier in 2026; Dehradun airport expansion will cut around 90 hectares of forest in Thano forest. Van Gujjar semi-nomadic Muslim community, classified as other backward class, have used forest for over 70 years with permits from forest department. Forty-three claims under Forest Rights Act pending. Highway authority proposes cutting 123 trees in first 5-km stretch (Bhaniyawala 2B area); contractors cut 30-40 trees in two days before work halted. Gram sabha of Bhaniyawala 2B-Jhakhan 2B-Rainapur filed complaint requesting intervention. On July 18, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced immediate halt to tree felling and dialogue with stakeholders. Van Gujjars raise indigenous Gojri buffaloes (8-10 per family); community migrates 25-30 km to graze animals and lop trees for fodder. Archival records of Van Gujjars in region date to 1820 in Saharanpur, with annual migration in Badkot from 1890s. 46,203 hectares of forest diverted in Uttarakhand since state formation; 47% in Dehradun district alone.

Residents and environmental activists are staging protests in Rishikesh against the proposed felling of Sal trees for road-widening on the Dehradun-Rishikesh National Highway between Bhaniyawala and Ranipokhari. Protesters argue that cutting trees could adversely impact regional ecology, increase temperatures, and affect groundwater levels.

Advocate Ashutosh Kothari, a local resident, said the protest has continued for five days to prevent tree felling. Protesters await a Supreme Court order on July 15 and a decision on a contempt of court application they filed.

Environmental activist Shilpi raised concerns about the deforestation and the proposed four-laning project. She highlighted that temperature has risen by 2.5 degrees and rainfall patterns in Rishikesh have changed significantly. She noted that Uttarakhand has lost more than 46,000 hectares of forest.

The Dehradun-Rishikesh National Highway widening project aims to improve regional connectivity. The project faces opposition from environmental groups and residents over ecological impact concerns.

Violent clashes erupted on the outskirts of Rishikesh on Sunday during a survey of encroachments on forest land, following Supreme Court orders. Protesters pelted stones at police and blocked railway tracks and roads leading to Rishikesh and Dehradun. Four police personnel suffered injuries. Police used force to disperse demonstrators and detained some. Both rail and road traffic resumed in the evening.

Survey was conducted for three days in Shivaji Nagar, Bapu Gram, Suman Vihar, Nadu Farm and Amit Gram on the outer parts of Rishikesh city. Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh stated sufficient police force was deployed, but protesters blocked road and rail traffic and turned violent when officials requested clearance.