India - Green National Highway Corridor Project : Request for Third Extension of the Inspection Panel Deadline for the Second Report and Recommendation

Overview & Synopsis

The Inspection Panel (the Panel) received a Request for Inspection (the Request) dated February 5, 2025, related to the Bank-funded India: Green National Highway Corridor Project (P167350), which the Panel registered on March 14, 2025. On May 5, 2025, Bank Management provided a written response to the Panel. On June 4, 2025, the Panel recommended an investigation into the allegations made in the Request in its Report and Recommendation to the Board. After the Panel submitted its Report and Recommendation, and before the Board approval, Management provided an Addendum to its initial Management Response on June 11, 2025. Management’s Addendum included six actions by the Project and the contractor to address issues as identified in the Panel’s Report and Recommendation dated June 4, 2025. The six actions to be taken by the Borrower and Management are to address the residual harm the Panel’s Report identified. On June 18, 2025, while noting that the actions proposed by Management will require time to be completed, the Panel revised its investigation recommendation and, deferred its decision for six months. This was to allow sufficient time for the actions highlighted in the Addendum to the Management Response to address the residual impacts identified in the Panel’s Report and Recommendation. On July 3, 2025, the Board approved the Panel’s deferral decision. The Panel is required to make a final recommendation taking into consideration the implementation of the six proposed actions.