Supreme Court Directs NHAI To Act Against Highway Encroachments, Set up Grievance Redressal Portal

The Supreme Court on Thursday (22 May) directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take concrete steps against encroachments on national highways, including forming surveillance teams with police personnel for regular patrolling and launching a grievance redressal portal, the Business Standard reported.

The order came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by petitioner Gyan Prakash, who requested enforcement of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002, and the removal of illegal occupations along highways.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih appointed Advocate Swati Ghildiyal as amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter. An amicus curiae provides legal insight to the court in cases where the parties may not adequately represent the public interest.

The court directed NHAI to set up a grievance redressal portal for the public to report unauthorised occupation of highway land. The bench instructed that compliance affidavits on the establishment of the portal must be submitted within three months.

In a related move, the Supreme Court directed the central government to intensify publicity for NHAI's ‘Rajmargyatra’ mobile application, which provides real-time highway information and allows users to lodge complaints.

The court emphasized that the availability of the app should be clearly advertised at toll booths and food plazas along national 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, according to news agency PTI.