The Request raises concerns about the Project’s plan to widen and fence an existing road to construct tollbooths for a toll plaza which they claim will obstruct access to a market, shops, schools, and houses. They allege the toll plaza is being constructed in front of two school gates, thereby blocking access for approximately 367 students. According to the Request, the Project will also threaten the community s‘ livelihoods, as shop owners may lose their businesses and face unemployment. Additionally, homeowners near the road worry they will lose permanent access to their properties once construction is completed. The Requesters also claim that neither the World Bank nor the National Highway Authority of India came to their community to consult them about the Project.
The Requesters told the Panel that, the toll plaza was to be originally located in a less populated area. They further state that they were neither consulted nor informed about the location of the toll plaza, and the decision to move it to the middle of their community market. The also state that they were not consulted on other adverse impacts of the Project on the community. They are also concerned for the safety of students and other pedestrians while crossing the widened road. They also allege that there was heavy police presence in the Project area during the widening of the road in preparation for the construction of the toll plaza.
The Panel registered the Request on February 21, 2025, and Management submitted its Response on May 5, 2025, after the Board approved an extension of its original date for response of April 14,, 2025
In its Response Management stated that the Borrower (being the Government of India and its implementation agency the Ministry of Roads and Highways, MoRTH) has decided to relocate the Toll Plaza from the original location in response to the communities’ complaints. It further stated that, with the Borrower’s decision to move the Toll Plaza away from its original location, the concerns raised by the Requesters (construction of fences, toll lanes, and booths) are “fully addressed”. Management stated that the Requesters’ rights and interests have not been, nor will they be, directly and adversely affected by the alleged failure of the Bank to implement its policies and procedures.
In the Panel’s Report and Recommendations to the Board on June 4, 2025, the Panel recommended conducting an investigation into alleged harms and potential non-compliance with applicable Bank policies on Environmental Assessment and Involuntary Resettlement. The Panel noted that Management has not dealt adequately with the serious issues raised in the Request nor has it demonstrated clearly that it has followed or is taking steps to follow the applicable policies and procedures. The Panel considered that the Request raises serious allegations of harm and potential policy non-compliance.
Following the Panel’s submission of its Report and Recommendation to the Board on June 4, 2025, Management sent the Panel an Addendum on June 11, 2025, to its initial Management Response submitted to the Panel on May 5, 2025. Management’s Addendum acknowledges lapses in the Bank’s application of its policies and procedures and provides details of six actions to be taken by the Borrower and Management to address residual harms suffered by the Requesters.
The Panel noted that the Addendum was submitted after the Panel had completed and submitted its Report and Recommendation to the Board. Nevertheless, the Panel held a meeting with the Requesters on June 16, 2025, to provide them with an update of the proposed actions set out in Management’s Addendum. Following this meeting, the Requesters sent an email to the Panel in which they agreed to the proposed actions set out in the Addendum Response and expressed their satisfaction and gratitude.
The Panel notes the Requesters’ response to the proposed actions Management included in its Addendum. The Panel notes that these actions aim to address the residual impacts identified in the Panel’s report, and it requires time to implement them.
Considering this, the Panel revises its current recommendation to investigate in its June 4 report and defers for six months its decision. This is to allow sufficient time for the implementation of the actions highlighted in the Management Response Addendum, to address the allegations raised by the Requesters. The Panel will reassess the situation considering the implementation of the Management actions and will make its recommendation to the Board within six months, i.e., by January 2026.
हिंदी संस्करण
Note: Translations of Inspection Panel and Management documents are unofficial and are provided as a service to interested parties. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If any part of the translation in Hindi is inconsistent with the original text in English, the latter shall govern.
निरीक्षण पैनल और प्रबंधन दस्तावेजों के अनुवाद अनौपचारिक हैं और इच्छुक पार्टियों को सेवा के रूप में प्रदान किए जाते हैं। सटीकता सुनिश्चित करने के लिए हर संभव प्रयास किया गया है। यदि हिंदी अनुवाद का कोई भी हिस्सा अंग्रेजी मूल पाठ के साथ असंगत है, तो अंग्रेजी प्रबल होगी।
