Goa, May 2 -- Four century-old banyan trees, relocated from Porvorim to Guirim as part of the six-lane elevated highway project, have begun showing early signs of recovery, with fresh shoots and leaves emerging. These trees were moved to land belonging to the National Highways Authority near contractor RRSM Infra's temporary site, following protests over plans to fell nearly 600 trees for the 5.2-km project. Public pressure led to a revised plan that reduced the number of trees to be cut, with the forest department approving the project on the condition that at least six trees would be transplanted rather than felled.

Although the Public Works Department (PWD) struggled to find a relocation site, due to non-responsiveness from local panc...