The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking strong measures to tackle unauthorized parking and encroachments along National Highway corridors. This initiative, covering 595 critical locations nationwide, is part of a broader road safety campaign following Supreme Court directives. The aim is to ensure smoother and safer traffic flow on National Highways, as stated by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
Unauthorized parking and encroachments along highways pose serious risks to road users and disrupt traffic flow and safety. NHAI has identified 595 critical spots of unauthorized parking in various states and is collaborating with state authorities and enforcement agencies to clear these obstructions from National Highways. The authority is also ramping up efforts to remove encroachments under the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002.
NHAI is working closely with state governments to establish District Highway Safety Task Forces and appoint nodal officers to enhance coordination among agencies and strengthen enforcement mechanisms. These steps are expected to ensure prompt action and continuous monitoring of safety issues on the National Highway network. The authority has instructed its field offices to conduct immediate audits of all Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) installations to ensure the proper functioning of key components such as traffic monitoring cameras, video incident detection systems, and emergency call boxes.
In addition, NHAI is focusing on deploying ambulances and recovery vehicles, increasing highway patrolling, integrating ATMS alerts with enforcement agencies, and proactively maintaining safety infrastructure. This comprehensive approach underscores NHAI’s dedication to enhancing road safety and facilitating smooth movement of passengers and goods across the National Highway network.
