Fri Sep 26 17:18:33 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A petition signed by prominent figures, including veteran politicians and environmentalists, has been filed with the Supreme Court of India urging a review of its 2021 decision that allowed the widening of Himalayan roads as part of the Chardham project. The petitioners argue that the road widening, exceeding the 5.5-meter limit recommended by an expert committee, has led to increased landslides, ecological damage, and frequent road blockages, especially during the monsoon season. They contend that the project’s detrimental environmental impact outweighs the perceived strategic benefits cited by the Ministry of Defence, which justified the widening for military transport to the Indo-China border.
**News Article:**
**Eminent Figures Urge Supreme Court to Reconsider Himalayan Road Widening Amid Environmental Concerns**
**NEW DELHI, September 26, 2025** – A coalition of prominent figures, including veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, Congress MP Karan Singh, leading environmentalists, and scientists, has petitioned the Supreme Court to review its 2021 judgment permitting the widening of Himalayan roads under the Chardham project beyond the originally recommended 5.5 meters. The petition cites increasing environmental damage and logistical issues stemming from the road construction.
The Chardham project, overseen by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), aims to improve connectivity to key pilgrimage sites. However, it has faced criticism for its environmental impact, particularly in ecologically sensitive zones.
The petition argues that the widening, initially opposed by an expert committee that recommended a 5.5-meter limit, has exacerbated landslides, damaged fragile ecosystems, and caused frequent road blockages, rendering strategic routes like Badrinath, Gangotri, and Pithauragarh unusable during the monsoon season.
The 2021 Supreme Court ruling, influenced by concerns from the Ministry of Defence regarding troop movement to the Indo-China border, allowed for a 10-meter width on three national highways. Petitioners now claim that the environmental consequences outweigh the perceived strategic advantage, and that the 5.5-meter limit should be reimposed. The petition highlights the devastating impact of recent disasters, including the damage in Dharali, Uttarakhand, as a direct result of road construction activities.
The Supreme Court is yet to respond to the petition, which seeks a recall of the 2021 judgment and a return to the expert committee’s recommendation. The case raises critical questions about balancing infrastructure development with environmental protection in the fragile Himalayan region.
First Piper 