Supreme Court Verdict Ushers Respite for National Projects

The Supreme Court's reconsideration of its May 16 ruling has spared crucial infrastructure projects, like AIIMS in Odisha and a Karnataka airport, from demolition due to lack of environmental clearances. The changed decision prevents destruction of public projects valued at nearly Rs 20,000 crore, allowing them regulatory relief.

In a pivotal development, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision preventing the government from issuing retrospective environmental clearances, offering vital relief to significant infrastructure projects nationwide, including an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) facility in Odisha.

Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran underscored the vast public resource loss estimated at approximately Rs 20,000 crore that the May 16 ruling risked, warning of harmful national repercussions, including for a 962-bed hospital and a greenfield airport.

With this judgement, projects like a new medical facility in Odisha and a greenfield airport in Karnataka avoid demolishment and gain regulatory respite under existing frameworks pending the Supreme Court's ultimate decision.

(With inputs from agencies.)