NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has issued a comprehensive set of pan-India guidelines aimed at bolstering road safety, specifically targeting expressways to prevent them from becoming hazardous zones due to administrative oversights or infrastructure deficiencies. The apex court’s directives include a strict prohibition on the parking of heavy vehicles on expressways.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that a bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar observed that national highways, despite constituting a mere two percent of India’s total road network, are tragically responsible for approximately 30 percent of all road fatalities nationwide. The court emphasised that the loss of even a single life due to preventable hazards, such as illegal parking or identified accident blackspots, signifies a failure of the state’s protective obligations.
The bench stated that the ‘Right to Life’ guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India not only protects against unlawful deprivation of life but also imposes a positive duty on the state to foster a secure environment where human life is safeguarded and valued. These directions were issued in a suo motu case initiated following 34 fatalities in accidents on November 2 and 3, 2025, in Phalodi, Rajasthan, and Rangareddy, Telangana, attributed to systemic negligence and catastrophic infrastructure failures.
Recognising commuter safety as an intrinsic component of the right to live with dignity, a constitutional mandate under Article 21, the court exercised its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to address the systemic root causes of road accidents. The court reiterated that no financial or administrative constraints can supersede the sanctity of human life, underscoring the urgency of this constitutional obligation through the strict timelines stipulated.
Key directives include an immediate ban on heavy or commercial vehicles parking or stopping on any national highway carriageway or paved shoulder, except at designated bays, lay-bys, or wayside amenities. Enforcement of these directions will leverage the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) for real-time alerts to state police, GPS tracking with timestamped photographic evidence, and integrated e-challan generation.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), state police, and state transport departments are mandated to comply with these directions. District magistrates are tasked with establishing a standard operating procedure for periodical inspections and patrolling by these authorities, with a compliance deadline of 60 days from the order’s date.
Furthermore, the construction or operation of any new dhaba, eatery, or commercial structure within the Right of Way (ROW) of any national highway is prohibited with immediate effect. District magistrates have been directed to enforce the demolition or removal of all new or existing unauthorised structures within 60 days, adhering to the Central Motor Vehicles Act (CMV Act) procedure and a specified SOP dated August 7, 2025.
No department, authority, or local body is permitted to grant or renew any license, NOC, or trade approval for sites within highway safety zones without prior clearance from NHAI or the Public Works Department (PWD). Existing licenses for such sites are to be reviewed within 30 days.
The Supreme Court also ordered the constitution of a district highway safety task force in every district across India within seven days of the order. This task force, comprising officers from the district administration, police, NHAI or concerned land-owning agency, PWD, and local bodies, will oversee surveillance, patrolling, and illegal parking enforcement on national highways.
The court also directed the operationalisation of ATMS, including cameras, speed detectors, emergency response facilities, and wayside amenities, alongside the construction of truck lay-bye facilities, identification and mitigation of accident blackspots, and installation of lighting. Institutional coordination, reporting, and the functioning of road safety committees are also emphasized.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is required to submit a compliance report to the court within 75 days, collating data from various states and agencies. The respective authorities are encouraged to coordinate with all stakeholders for implementation, with parties having the liberty to approach the court if compliance issues arise. The matter has been scheduled for a compliance hearing after two months.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
