Latest news with #ControlofNationalHighways(LandandTraffic)Act
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC promotes 'Rajmargyatra' app, directs NHAI to crack down on highway encroachments
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 top court also directed the Centre to give wide publicity to the availability of 'Rajmargyatra' mobile application on print, electronic, as well as social media. The National Highways Authority of India ( NHAI ) has introduced the 'Rajmargyatra' mobile application which aims to provide comprehensive information and efficient complaint redressal for national highway users. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said information about the availability of the mobile application shall be displayed prominently at toll and food plazas on highways. 'We direct the Joint Secretary (Highways) to file on record the details of various categories of complaints lodged on the 'Rajmargyatra' mobile application, including complaints regarding unauthorised occupation of highway lands and action taken thereon. 'We further direct NHAI to report compliance regarding the creation of grievance redressal portal for reporting complaints relating to unauthorised occupation of highways . The compliance affidavits shall be filed within three months,' the bench said. The top court also directed the highway administration to issue a detailed Standard Operating Procedure regarding the constitution of teams for inspection of the national highways, including collection of data regarding unauthorised occupation of highway lands. 'We direct the Union of India to constitute surveillance teams consisting of State police or other forces. The duty of the surveillance teams will be to do patrolling regularly and punctually. Even this compliance shall be reported within a period of three months. 'We direct the highway administration and the concerned respondents who are members of the same to take into consideration the suggestions submitted by the amicus curiae on October 5, 2024 and take steps to implement the said suggestions,' the bench said while posting the matter for compliance on September 15. The top court was hearing a PIL filed by a person named Gyan Prakash whereby he sought various directions for implementation of provisions of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 and removal of encroachments from highways. Advocate Swati Ghildiyal was appointed amicus curiae by the apex court for assisting in the matter.
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Business Standard
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
SC asks NHAI to act against highway encroachments, set up complaint portal
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to implement effective measures to curb illegal occupation of highway land and to establish surveillance teams comprising police officers for regular patrolling. The directive came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Gyan Prakash, who sought the enforcement of provisions under the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002, and the removal of encroachments on highways. Grievance portal and compliance deadline A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih appointed Advocate Swati Ghildiyal as amicus curiae to assist in the case. An amicus curiae is an individual or an organisation who assists the court by furnishing information or advice regarding questions of law or fact, without being party to the lawsuit. Promotion of Rajmargyatra app and toll booth visibility The court also instructed the central government to widely promote the 'Rajmargyatra' mobile app through print, electronic, and social media platforms. The 'Rajmargyatra' app, developed by NHAI, is designed to offer detailed information and an efficient grievance redressal system for users of national highways. The Bench underlined that information about the app's availability must be clearly displayed at toll booths and food plazas along highways. "We direct the Joint Secretary (Highways) to file on record the details of various categories of complaints lodged on the 'Rajmargyatra' mobile application, including complaints regarding unauthorised occupation of highway lands and action taken thereon," the Bench said, reported news agency PTI. The court directed NHAI to report compliance regarding the establishment of a grievance redressal portal for lodging complaints related to unauthorised occupation of highways. The compliance affidavits must be submitted within three months. Surveillance and SOP for patrolling teams It also directed the government to constitute surveillance teams comprising state police and other forces, specifying that these teams must conduct regular and timely patrolling. The court further stated that compliance with this directive must also be reported within three months. The court also directed the highway administration to issue a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) regarding the constitution of teams for inspection of the national highways, including collection of data regarding unauthorised occupation of highway lands. The court directed officials to implement the suggestions submitted by the amicus curiae and posted the matter for compliance on September 15.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court directs NHAI to take effective steps to curb unauthorised occupation of highways
The Supreme Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take effective steps to curb unauthorised occupation of highway lands and form surveillance teams of police officials to carry out patrolling. The Supreme Court also directed the Centre to give wide publicity to the availability of 'Rajmargyatra' mobile application on print, electronic, as well as social media. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced the 'Rajmargyatra' mobile application which aims to provide comprehensive information and efficient complaint redressal for national highway users. A Bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih said information about the availability of the mobile application shall be displayed prominently at toll and food plazas on highways. 'We direct the Joint Secretary [Highways] to file on record the details of various categories of complaints lodged on the 'Rajmargyatra' mobile application, including complaints regarding unauthorised occupation of highway lands and action taken thereon. 'We further direct NHAI to report compliance regarding the creation of grievance redressal portal for reporting complaints relating to unauthorised occupation of highways. The compliance affidavits shall be filed within three months,' the Bench said. The Supreme Court also directed the highway administration to issue a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding the constitution of teams for inspection of the national highways, including collection of data regarding unauthorised occupation of highway lands. "We direct the Union of India to constitute surveillance teams consisting of State police or other forces. The duty of the surveillance teams will be to do patrolling regularly and punctually. Even this compliance shall be reported within a period of three months. "We direct the highway administration and the concerned respondents who are members of the same to take into consideration the suggestions submitted by the amicus curiae on October 5, 2024 and take steps to implement the said suggestions," the Bench said while posting the matter for compliance on September 15. The Supreme Court was hearing a PIL filed by a person named Gyan Prakash whereby he sought various directions for implementation of provisions of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 and removal of encroachments from highways. Advocate Swati Ghildiyal was appointed amicus curiae by the Supreme Court for assisting in the matter.
