Supreme Court Gives Nod To Char Dham Road Widening, Cites 'Strategic Importance'

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud also set up the oversight committee headed by former Justice A K Sikri to report to it directly on the project,

Supreme Court of India | File Image

New Delhi: Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday paved way for double lane widening of roads for the Chardham project in Uttarakhand in view of security concerns. The apex court agreed with the government's position that wider roads in the area were of "strategic importance."

The crucial 900-km-long Chardham project worth Rs 12,000 crore aims to connect four holy towns including Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath in all-weather conditions.

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud has also set up the oversight committee headed by former Justice A K Sikri to report to it directly on the project, according to the news agency PTI.

"Border security concerns need to be met and movement of troops and equipment is needed, given serious challenges to national security in the recent past," the court said in its hearing according to the publication the New Indian Express.

The court observed that the defence ministry is a specialised body and can decide its operation requirements. The oversight committee shall receive all support from the defence ministry, ministry of road transport, Uttarakhand government and all-district magistrates.

The apex court was hearing Centre's plea seeking modification of the September 8, 2020 order, which had asked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to follow the 2018 circular stipulating carriageway width of 5.5 metres on the ambitious Chardham highway project, which goes up to the border with China.

In its plea, the MoD had said sought modification of the order and directions that the national highways from Rishikesh to Mana, from Rishikesh to Gangotri, and from Tanakpur to Pithoragarh may be developed to two-lane configuration.

 The Centre argued that it will facilitate rapid deployment/movement of armed forces along the India-China border which has witnessed face-offs at several points in recent times.