Overview
- A three-judge Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant on July 15 granted conditional prior permission for the Rs 1,500–1,510 crore Kukrail Night Safari project while keeping the case open for further input.
- The court ordered periodic inspections by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), directed the first site visit to be completed on or before October 28, 2026, and appointed an amicus curiae to assist in oversight.
- The CEC’s November 2025 audit found 24,274 trees on the site and said 4,808 would be felled under the state plan, recommended blocking the Lucknow Zoo relocation and disallowed the proposed Adventure Zone because of ecological concerns.
- Project plans call for a two‑phase development across about 855 acres inside the 2,027.4‑hectare Kukrail Reserve Forest with battery‑operated vehicles, moonlight‑style lighting and facilities for breeding, research and education.
- The court made clear its permission does not replace statutory approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, the EIA/SEIAA process and other laws, so construction cannot begin on components that need separate clearances; the order puts emphasis on protecting Kukrail’s role as an urban green lung and the gharial rehabilitation centre.