In a move highlighting the conflict between urban development and environmental conservation, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to cut down 473 more trees. The request is for widening the approach road to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) Hospital in south Delhi, a critical healthcare facility for paramilitary personnel.
Past Contempt and Present Plea
This application comes with significant historical baggage. Last year, the DDA narrowly escaped contempt charges for cutting 642 trees without the apex court's prior approval for the same project. The court had then spared officials from punishment, noting the "public importance" of the hospital project but strongly criticizing the authority's "administrative incompetence and blatant disregard" for procedures.
In its fresh plea, the DDA has also sought permission for the diversion of 2.97 hectares of forest land for road construction and the translocation of 2,519 saplings. The authority has identified a 3.68-hectare non-forest land parcel in Dhoolsiras, Dwarka, for compensatory afforestation.
The Rationale for Road Widening
The DDA argues that the widening of the 2.72 km stretch from the main Chhatarpur road to the hospital is essential for public service. It states that the current road width of about 7.5 metres is inadequate for handling ambulance operations during emergencies and the anticipated increase in traffic once the hospital becomes operational.
"For the timely and smooth transportation of seriously injured paramilitary personnel as well as emergency patients, widening of the road has to be carried out," the DDA told the court. It emphasized that the CAPFIMS hospital, which will function under the aegis of AIIMS, is ready but cannot operate fully without the widened road, which needs to be 24-metre-wide as per norms. The improved road will also provide better connectivity to the Saarc University, CBI residential quarters, and CISF residential complex.
Court's Previous Directives and Future Safeguards
In its 2025 order, the Supreme Court had issued a crucial directive to prevent such oversights in the future. The bench mandated that henceforth, every DDA notification concerning afforestation, road construction, or tree felling must explicitly mention the pendency of relevant Supreme Court proceedings. This was to ensure the "plea of ignorance" could not be used as a defence again.
In its current application, the DDA, referencing this order, has humbly requested the court's "further indulgence" for the road project, stating it serves a larger public purpose and will benefit forthcoming developmental projects in the area. The decision now rests with the Supreme Court, weighing urgent healthcare infrastructure against Delhi's dwindling green cover.
