+
Char Dham panel chief Ravi Chopra resigns from his position
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Char Dham panel chief Ravi Chopra resigns from his position

Ravi Chopra, a veteran environmentalist, resigned from the position of chairman of the High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Supreme Court on the Char Dham project. He states that his belief that HPC would protect the fragile Himalayan ecology is shattered.

In his letter of resignation to the Supreme Court’s secretary-general on January 27, he referred to the December 2021 order of the apex court that had accepted the wider road configuration to meet the defense requirements, instead of the recommendation from HPC. In September 2020 it was accepted by the Supreme Court in its earlier order.

Chopra added that the judgment also confined HPC’s role only to oversee the two Non-Defence roads. In the past, HPC‘s directions and recommendations have been ignored or tardily responded to by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

The experience fails to inspire confidence that responses of the ministry will be any different even in terms of the two Non-Defence roads.

The Honorable Court also gave permission for seeking legal relief for the widening of the highways. In these circumstances, Chopra does not see any purpose to continue to head the committee or indeed, furthermore to be a part of it.

The letter also mentioned that Chopra was compelled by an inner voice to help in restoring the Himalayan environment and livelihoods to accept the position in September 2019, despite his age. And now the same inner voice is compelling him to move out.

Image Source

Also read: MoRTH inaugurates rail-cum-road bridge project of Rs 696 cr

Ravi Chopra, a veteran environmentalist, resigned from the position of chairman of the High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Supreme Court on the Char Dham project. He states that his belief that HPC would protect the fragile Himalayan ecology is shattered. In his letter of resignation to the Supreme Court’s secretary-general on January 27, he referred to the December 2021 order of the apex court that had accepted the wider road configuration to meet the defense requirements, instead of the recommendation from HPC. In September 2020 it was accepted by the Supreme Court in its earlier order. Chopra added that the judgment also confined HPC’s role only to oversee the two Non-Defence roads. In the past, HPC‘s directions and recommendations have been ignored or tardily responded to by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The experience fails to inspire confidence that responses of the ministry will be any different even in terms of the two Non-Defence roads. The Honorable Court also gave permission for seeking legal relief for the widening of the highways. In these circumstances, Chopra does not see any purpose to continue to head the committee or indeed, furthermore to be a part of it. The letter also mentioned that Chopra was compelled by an inner voice to help in restoring the Himalayan environment and livelihoods to accept the position in September 2019, despite his age. And now the same inner voice is compelling him to move out. Image Source Also read: MoRTH inaugurates rail-cum-road bridge project of Rs 696 cr

Next Story
Real Estate

Heena Lalwani Buys Rs 1.13 Billion Juhu Apartment

Heena Lalwani, promoter of Aatman Innovations Private Limited, has purchased a luxury apartment worth Rs 1.13 billion in Mumbai’s upscale Juhu locality, according to property registration documents accessed by Zapkey.com.The 9,862 sq ft apartment, located on the 10th floor of Lodha Developers’ Avalon Tower, was acquired at Rs 115,000 per sq ft and comes with five car parking spaces. The deal, registered on 18 August 2025, also included the payment of Rs 68 million in stamp duty and a Rs 30,000 registration fee.Lodha Developers did not respond to queries regarding the transaction, while the..

Next Story
Real Estate

Godrej Buys KPHB Land for Rs 7 Billion in E-Auction

An acre of prime land in Kukatpally Housing Board (KPHB), Hyderabad, was auctioned for Rs 7 billion, with the Telangana Housing Board generating Rs 5.47 billion from the sale of 7.8 acres through e-auction on 20 August 2025.The auction notification was issued last month, attracting bids from Godrej Properties, Aurobindo Realty, Prestige Estates, and Ashoka Builders, according to Board vice-chairman V.P. Gautham. With an offset price of Rs 4 billion per acre, the three-hour auction saw 46 bid increases, before Godrej Properties acquired the land.Revenue generated from the auction will be utilis..

Next Story
Real Estate

HMDA to Auction 93 Prime Plots in September

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is preparing to conduct a three-day auction of prime open plots across Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts this September.According to official reports, the e-auction will take place on 17, 18, and 19 September, offering 93 plots. Of these, 70 are located in the Bachupally HMDA layout, with the remainder spread across Turkayamjal, Kokapet, Poppalguda, Chandanagar, Bairagiguda, Gandi Maisamma, Suraram, Medipally, and Bachupally village.The highest upset price has been fixed at Rs 175,000 per square yard for a land parce..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?