- Why in news
- On 24 June 2026, NHAI said it has stepped up action against unauthorized parking and encroachments on National Highways, following Supreme Court directions. It cited the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 for removing encroachments.
- What it is
- The Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 protects National Highway land from unauthorized occupation and regulates traffic and access on highways. It lets highway administration remove encroachments and control entry to and exit from highways. NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways use it for enforcement on highway land.
- Locations identified
- NHAI has identified 595 critical locations of unauthorized parking, with coordinates, across states.
- Legal basis for removal
- Encroachments are being removed from National Highway corridors under the 2002 Act.
- Institutional mechanism
- NHAI is working with States to set up District Highway Safety Task Forces and name nodal officers to monitor compliance.
- ATMS audit
- Field offices must audit all Advanced Traffic Management System installations, including cameras, incident detection, speed detection, message signboards and emergency call boxes.
- Court direction
- The drive is stated to comply with Supreme Court directions.
Don’t confuse with NHAI vs MoRTH: NHAI is the statutory authority that builds and maintains National Highways; the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the policy-making ministry that oversees it.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Clearing encroachments and illegal parking cuts accident risk and keeps traffic flowing on National Highways.
Problems
- Highway land is often encroached by local livelihoods, so removal needs State and district cooperation and can cause local resistance.
Way forward
- Use task forces, nodal officers and ATMS data for steady, joint enforcement, along with designated parking and rehabilitation for affected vendors.
Put in your answer
Task forces and nodal officers: District Highway Safety Task Forces and nodal officers are being created to coordinate enforcement across agencies.
No close past question yet.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Enforcement drive under a standing law; few fresh facts a statement can turn on, so card only.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.