Supreme Court allows widening of three hill stretches in Uttarakhand
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Supreme Court allows widening of three hill stretches in Uttarakhand

The Supreme Court has allowed the widening of the three hill stretches in Uttarakhand, including Rishikesh to Mana, Rishikesh to Gangotri, and Tanakpur to Pithoragarh, which forms a part of Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna.

The road widening will be a Double Line-Paved Shoulder (DL-PS), having a 10 m width as suggested by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

The Bench has modified the court's order to stick to the 2018 circular on the width of the roads. The 2018 circular suggests a width of 5.5 m for the carriageway.

The Bench members said that MoRTH and the Ministry of Defense (MoD) could proceed with the execution of the project, subject to the condition that it addressed all environmental concerns flagged by the High Powered Committee (HPC). It has set up an Oversight Committee to oversee the implementation of the HPC's suggestions.

The 2020 circular was issued by MoRTH with the recommendations of MoD. The court is required to oversee the modalities decided upon by the Army and the MoD to safeguard the security of India's borders and interrogate the policy entrusted by the law with the defense of the nation.

The central government has moved the court, saying that there has been a material change in the circumstances, necessitating an improvement of roads to enable the movement of troops and equipment to the army station on the India-China border.

The 2012 and 2018 circulars of MoRTH do not address the issue of the strategic border roads. The construction of a highway on the strategic roads for defense used by the Armed Forces cannot be the same as other roads in hilly and mountain regions. These roads require environmental considerations, especially in the areas of the strategic border for the security of the nation.

As per the judgment, HPC members might disagree on road widening. They agreed on other environmental issues in which the road project was implemented by MoRTH.

The Bench said that benefits to the armed forces are crucial, but environmental health is also an important factor for all the individuals residing in that area.

Image Source

The Supreme Court has allowed the widening of the three hill stretches in Uttarakhand, including Rishikesh to Mana, Rishikesh to Gangotri, and Tanakpur to Pithoragarh, which forms a part of Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna. The road widening will be a Double Line-Paved Shoulder (DL-PS), having a 10 m width as suggested by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The Bench has modified the court's order to stick to the 2018 circular on the width of the roads. The 2018 circular suggests a width of 5.5 m for the carriageway. The Bench members said that MoRTH and the Ministry of Defense (MoD) could proceed with the execution of the project, subject to the condition that it addressed all environmental concerns flagged by the High Powered Committee (HPC). It has set up an Oversight Committee to oversee the implementation of the HPC's suggestions. The 2020 circular was issued by MoRTH with the recommendations of MoD. The court is required to oversee the modalities decided upon by the Army and the MoD to safeguard the security of India's borders and interrogate the policy entrusted by the law with the defense of the nation. The central government has moved the court, saying that there has been a material change in the circumstances, necessitating an improvement of roads to enable the movement of troops and equipment to the army station on the India-China border. The 2012 and 2018 circulars of MoRTH do not address the issue of the strategic border roads. The construction of a highway on the strategic roads for defense used by the Armed Forces cannot be the same as other roads in hilly and mountain regions. These roads require environmental considerations, especially in the areas of the strategic border for the security of the nation. As per the judgment, HPC members might disagree on road widening. They agreed on other environmental issues in which the road project was implemented by MoRTH. The Bench said that benefits to the armed forces are crucial, but environmental health is also an important factor for all the individuals residing in that area. Image Source

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Campal Stadium Project Delayed

The football stadium and parade ground project in Campal, Panaji, which was initiated under the smart city plan, has yet to be completed, even though it is over a year past its original deadline. The project started on March 21, 2022, and according to the initial work order, it was supposed to be finished by September 20, 2023. Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) has reported that 98% of the work is complete, with the final 2% expected to be finished by March 2025. "A small area where the concrete batching plant is situated needs completion," they said. The project's total est..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Cleanliness Control Centre to Monitor Work, Complaints 24X7

Jaipur's cleanliness management system is set to be more efficient with the Integrated Command and Control Centre now operating 24/7. On Friday, Arun Kumar Hasija, CEO of Jaipur Smart City Limited, issued orders to implement this change. Hasija explained that the centre will supervise door-to-door refuse collection, sanitation operations, and mechanized cleaning activities. Special attention is being given to night-time cleaning across the city, with advanced machinery being used to sanitize road dividers in areas like the Walled City. The centre will now operate round-the-clock to improve c..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Rs 1 Bn Plan for Waste Disposal at Bandhwari Landfill

A Rs 1 billion plan for disposing of over 10 lakh tonnes of legacy waste at the Bandhwari Solid Waste Treatment Plant has been submitted to the Department of Urban Local Bodies (ULB) for approval. The proposal is expected to be approved in an upcoming purchase committee meeting led by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, officials from the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) said. This proposal follows the December 17 deadline set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for MCG to submit an update on waste disposal progress at Bandhwari. Earlier this year, MCG had assured the NGT in an a..

Hi There!

"Now get regular updates from CW Magazine on WhatsApp!

Join the CW WhatsApp channel for the latest news, industry events, expert insights, and project updates from the construction and infrastructure industry.

Click the link below to join"

+91 81086 03000