SC tells NHAI to take effective steps to curb unauthorised occupation of highways

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India to take effective steps to curb unauthorised occupation of highway lands and form surveillance teams of police officials to carry out patrolling.

The court also directed the Centre to give wide publicity to the availability of ‘Rajmargyatra’ mobile application on print, electronic, as well as social media.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan held that the maintenance of highway entails not only keeping such roads in good condition and free from encroachments, but also ensuring adequate safety measures to minimize the risk of accidents.

"Under the National Highways Act, 1956, Section 4 provides that the National Highways shall vest in the Union of India. Therefore, it is the obligation of the central government to maintain the national highways. Maintenance of highways includes the obligation to keep them in good condition. It also included keeping them free of encroachments," the court said.

The court was hearing a plea concerning safety on national highways, which highlighted a report that a staggering 53,181 people lost their lives in highway accidents across India in the year 2017. The petition called for the effective implementation of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002.

The court also ordered that the highway administration would widely publicise the 'Rajmargyatra' mobile app, which was developed by the National Highways Authority of India, and which gives users information about highways, toll plazas, nearby amenities.

It further said that the app must include a complaint redressal system which can be used to report accidents or unauthorised occupation at highways.

"Public awareness about the app is to be spread through print, electronic, and social media. The highway authorities are also to ensure that information about the app is displayed at all toll and food plazas," the court said.

In other directions, the court told the Centre to establish surveillance teams, including State Police or other forces, for highway patrolling to deter encroachments.

The court scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 15 to check on compliance with the directions already issued.