Chandigarh, July 24 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has ordered a re-survey of the 19 km Zirakpur-Panchkula bypass project of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) over environmental concerns.

The foundation stone of the project was to be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his July 17 visit. However, it had to be deferred in view of the HC, on April 1, putting a stay on the felling of trees for the project.

The court had acted on a public interest litigation (PIL) against the felling of nearly 5,000 trees for the project, connecting Zirakpur in Punjab to a toll plaza on Chandigarh-Shimla highway in Haryana.

The six-lane stretch, spanning nearly 19.2 km, will start at the Patiala-Zirakpur light point on NH-7...