Bombay High Court Sets 2028 Deadline for Nagpur Tiger Corridor Completion
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has established a definitive 2028 completion timeline for the crucial tiger corridor along the Nagpur–Katol highway. This decision came after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) presented a comprehensive project schedule in response to a public interest litigation that highlighted significant delays in the highway construction work.
Court Disposes PIL After Receiving Concrete Timeline
A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode disposed of the PIL filed by Katol residents Dinesh Sheshrao Thakre and Sumit Babuta through their counsel Mahesh Dhatrak. The petitioners had raised serious concerns about the construction work remaining stalled for nearly six months, causing substantial inconvenience to daily commuters and creating uncertainty about the proposed wildlife corridor's future.
During the hearing proceedings, the Court expressed clear displeasure over the prolonged delays and specifically demanded a clear, time-bound completion schedule from the highway authority. Following these judicial observations, NHAI Project Director Chandrakant Sinha filed a detailed affidavit outlining the phased implementation plan for the entire project.
Detailed Phased Implementation Plan Revealed
According to the authority's submission to the Court, the project will proceed in two distinct phases:
- Tiger Corridor-1: The tender process for this section began in October 2025, with a work order expected to be issued by March 2026. Construction will require approximately 18 months from the work order date, placing the likely completion timeline around December 2027.
- Tiger Corridor-2: This phase currently awaits environmental clearance from the National Board for Wildlife. Once approval is secured, a revised proposal will be submitted in June 2026, with a work order anticipated by October 2026. Construction of this second phase will require 24 months after the work order issuance, extending the overall corridor completion to 2028.
Project Details and Community Impact
The wildlife corridor spans approximately 12 kilometres and will pass outside the municipal limits of Katol city. Authorities have clarified that because the alignment strategically bypasses the urban area, existing traffic movement within Katol will not experience disruption during the construction phases.
The recording of this completion schedule on affidavit provided the judicial assurance needed for the Court to dispose of the PIL, while establishing clear accountability for project delivery.
