Overview
- A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant modified its 2023 stay to permit metalling of the 11–11.5 km route, including the ~4.5–4.7 km wildlife corridor segment between Rajaji and Corbett.
- Only non-commercial movement is allowed on the protected stretch, with heavy trucks and dumpers directed to a longer detour that adds about 65 km.
- The state told the court it has NBWL, NTCA, MoEFCC and CEC clearances, as the bench questioned the CEC’s earlier suggestion to cap traffic at 150 vehicles a day.
- Officials and interveners said the road will provide reliable access for 18 remote villages serving more than 40,000 people, with a proposed elevated ~400-metre section to aid animal movement.
- The bench asked the state to detail enforcement and monitoring plans and tasked the CEC and amicus K. Parameshwar to scrutinize them at the next hearing, as conservation groups voiced wildlife-impact concerns.