The Ministry of Defence, seeking expansion of road width in the Chardham highway project in Uttarakhand, told the Supreme Court that situation on the ground at the India-China border has changed significantly this year and it has become imperative that men and equipment should move swiftly from army stations to the frontier.

"The security of the state itself is in jeopardy especially in the background of today's sensitive situation existing at the Chinese border," the Ministry said in an application, filed through advocate Rajat Nair.