International Journal of Computer Techniques Volume 12 Issue 4 | The Environmental Impact Assessment of The Chennai to Salem Highway Project: A Critical Examination of Ecological Consequences and Sustainable Development Imperatives.
The Environmental Impact Assessment of The Chennai to Salem Highway Project
International Journal of Computer Techniques – Volume 12 Issue 4, July – August 2025
ISSN: 2394-2231 | https://ijctjournal.org
Abstract
This study critically examines the environmental and legal implications of the Chennai to Salem highway project. While the project is positioned as a catalyst for economic growth, it raises serious concerns about deforestation, biodiversity loss, and ecological imbalance. The paper evaluates the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, judicial interventions, and the broader implications for sustainable development. It argues that environmental health must take precedence over infrastructural expansion when viable alternatives exist.
Keywords
National Highway project, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Chennai to Salem National Highways (NHs), Bharatmala Pariyojana, Sustainability, SC and HC Verdicts
Conclusion
The Chennai-Salem highway project exemplifies the conflict between economic ambition and environmental responsibility. Despite judicial moderation, the project’s ecological cost remains high. This paper advocates for expanding existing infrastructure rather than constructing new routes that threaten biodiversity and natural resources. Sustainable development must prioritize environmental integrity, ensuring that progress does not compromise the well-being of future generations. As the author notes, “The true measure of development is not in the highways we build, but in the natural beauty and ecological balance we preserve.”
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