Supreme Court Halts Pune’s Balbharati–Paud Phata Link Road Project Until Environmental Clearance
SC directs that the Balbharati-Paud Phata link (ILS Hill Road) cannot proceed without environmental clearance; EIA to decide within 3 months.
Pune, October 17, 2025: In a major decision impacting Pune’s urban development, the Supreme Court has ordered a complete halt to the Balbharati–Paud Phata link road project, directing authorities not to proceed until environmental clearance (EC) is obtained. The ruling underscores the judiciary’s growing insistence on balancing infrastructure expansion with ecological preservation.
The proposed road, passing through the ILS Hill area and Law College Hill, has long been a matter of contention between civic authorities and environmental activists. Opponents of the project argue that the stretch is a crucial biodiversity hotspot, home to more than 400 species of trees and native flora, while also serving as an important groundwater recharge zone for western Pune.
Hearing the matter, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran stated that no construction or land work should commence without prior environmental clearance. The Court has instructed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) authority to review and decide the EC application within three months.
According to submissions made in court, civic authorities have claimed that the proposed road is part of the city’s approved development plan and that its design minimizes environmental harm by avoiding core forest patches. However, the Court questioned these claims and emphasized that any project intersecting forest-like areas or ecologically sensitive zones requires a detailed EIA, regardless of its inclusion in the development plan.
The Court further referred to an earlier status quo order from the Bombay High Court, which restrained the authorities from acquiring land belonging to the Indian Law Society (ILS) for the same project. The ILS had earlier maintained that the hill area has been protected and maintained by the institution for several decades and stands as one of the few remaining green lungs in Pune.
This Supreme Court directive effectively pauses one of Pune’s most debated infrastructure projects. Environmental groups have hailed the decision, calling it a significant victory for conservation and a reminder that development must adhere to scientific and legal frameworks.
Officials familiar with the matter indicated that a comprehensive environmental study will now be required, including multi-season biodiversity assessment, soil and water analysis, and impact evaluation on the hill’s drainage and aquifer systems. Only after the EIA report is approved can work resume, and even then, it will likely come with strict environmental safeguards.
Urban experts say this judgment could influence how future road projects in hilly or forested parts of cities are assessed. Pune, in particular, has seen multiple civic projects halted or modified due to environmental concerns, including roads passing near forest patches, streams, and hilltops.
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