What is the status of the Delhi-Pauri highway expansion project?

The central government has urged the Supreme Court to clear the Delhi-Pauri national highway expansion project, which has come under scrutiny over alleged procedural lapses and threats to wildlife.

How does the highway expansion project threaten the Rajaji-Corbett wildlife corridor?

The project threatens to fragment a vital wildlife corridor linking the Rajaji and Corbett tiger reserves, which is a crucial habitat for tigers and elephants.

What are the concerns raised by conservationists about the project?

Conservationists claim the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) did not consult the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) before commencing construction, and that the project poses a severe threat to the ecological connectivity and functional integrity of the critical wildlife corridor.

Home / Environment / Vital Wildlife Corridor Threatened by Highway Expansion Project

Vital Wildlife Corridor Threatened by Highway Expansion Project

23 Oct

•

Summary

Central government urges Supreme Court to clear Delhi-Pauri highway expansion
Project threatens to fragment wildlife corridor linking Rajaji and Corbett reserves
Applicant claims NHAI did not seek expert opinion from Wildlife Institute of India

Vital Wildlife Corridor Threatened by Highway Expansion Project

In a move that has raised concerns among conservationists, the central government is urging the Supreme Court to clear the Delhi-Pauri national highway expansion project. The project, which involves the four-laning of the existing NH-119 (Najibabad-Kotdwar-Pauri) road, has come under scrutiny after a plea alleged procedural lapses and a threat to wildlife.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has stated that the project received approval from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life (SC-NBWL) in March 2025. However, the applicant, a non-profit organization called the Centre for Sustainable Green Economy, claims that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) did not seek any expert opinion from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) prior to undertaking the road expansion.

The applicant further alleges that construction work has commenced on the Uttar Pradesh side of the project without implementing any wildlife mitigation measures, despite the road cutting through an elephant corridor that has seen significant tiger movement in recent times. The MoEFCC has denied any procedural flaws in the sanctioning of the project, stating that mitigation measures are prepared by the concerned state governments.

The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Centre on the application, and the MoEFCC has filed its reply. The case is ongoing, with the court set to determine the fate of the project and its impact on the critical Rajaji-Corbett wildlife corridor.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.