Move follows High Court directions; eligible road projects on forest land to be approved under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
In a significant step aimed at resolving long-pending infrastructure issues, the Himachal Pradesh government has issued a fresh notification to facilitate the clearance of 2,183 road projects constructed on forest land across the state.
The government has decided that road projects falling under the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 will be processed and approved under the Act, while the remaining cases will continue to be dealt with under applicable forest conservation laws.
The decision comes in the wake of directions issued by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which instructed the state government to take action in accordance with the law and address pending cases involving roads constructed on forest land. Following the court’s observations, the Forest Department has initiated a structured process to examine and dispose of all outstanding cases.
According to the notification, concerned departments and implementing agencies will undertake a detailed review of all 2,183 road projects to determine their eligibility under the Forest Rights Act. Roads that meet the prescribed legal criteria will be forwarded for approval through the appropriate channels.
Officials believe the move will help resolve a large number of stalled cases that have remained pending for years due to legal and procedural hurdles. The government expects the initiative to improve road connectivity in rural and remote regions while accelerating developmental activities across the state.
The Forest Department has maintained that the notification has been issued in the larger public interest, with the objective of legally regularising eligible road projects and ensuring that essential infrastructure reaches underserved communities.
The development is likely to benefit thousands of residents living in remote areas by improving access to transportation, healthcare, education, and other public services.
