**Summary:**
In response to concerns raised regarding illegal parking and accidents on highways, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addressed the issue of truck laybys and rest areas in Lok Sabha Question No. 3130 on August 7, 2025. The Ministry acknowledges that road accidents are multi-causal, resulting from human error, road conditions, and vehicular condition.
The government is constructing truck laybys according to the Manual of Specifications and Standards issued by the Indian Road Congress (IRC:SP:87-2019, IRC:SP:84-2019) for four/six-lane highways. Truckers' facilities and Wayside Amenities (WSAs) are planned at intervals of 40-60 km along National Highways of four-lane and above configuration, typically near check barriers, interstate borders, and conventional truck stops, integrated as part of highway projects. As of June 2025, 59 dedicated trucker facilities, in addition to truck laybys, are operational on National Highways/Expressways.
Land acquisition has been a factor contributing to delays in national highway construction, including WSAs.
Truckers' facilities will include mandatory provisions for dormitory, self-laundry, cooking facility, tractor-trolley coupling/decoupling, vehicle wash area, and open eating space with WiFi at WSAs on National Highways/Expressways.
To ensure the safety and welfare of truck drivers, working hours and rest periods are governed by Sections 13 to 20 of the Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961. Furthermore, GSR 886 (E) dated December 8, 2023, mandates that vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 2025, be equipped with air conditioning systems for the cabins of N2 goods vehicles (gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 12.0 tonnes) and N3 goods vehicles (gross vehicle weight exceeding 12.0 tonnes).
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways.
SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: Member of LOK SABHA, who asked the question about illegal parking and accidents on highways.
SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI: The Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS, who provided the answer to the question.
National HighwaysExpressways: Roads maintained by the MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS on which the truckers facility includes dormitory, selflaundry, cooking facility, provision for tractortrolley couplingdecoupling, vehicle wash area, open eating space with WiFi.
Indian Road Congress: An organization that issues Manual of Specifications and Standards (IRC:SP:872019 IRC:SP:842019) for foursix laneHighways.
Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961: An act that includes provisions related to the number of hours of work and adequate resting hours for transport workers.
National Highways: Roads maintained by the MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS where the Government has planned truckers' facilities and Wayside Amenities WSAs at an interval of 4060 km along National Highways of fourlane and above configuration.
GSR 886 E: A government notification dated 8th December, 2023, mandating air conditioning systems in certain goods vehicles manufactured on or after 1st October, 2025.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3130
ANSWERED ON – 7th AUGUST, 2025
ILLEGAL PARKING AND ACCIDENTS ON HIGHWAYS
3130. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन एवं िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the absence of dedicated truck lay-bys and rest areas
contributes to illegal parking and increased accidents on highways
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has prepared a national plan to establish
truck rest zones at fixed intervals on key corridors and if so, the
details thereof;
(c) the number of such lay-bys operational as on June 2025 and those
under construction;
(d) whether land acquisition and financing delays have affected the
implementation and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the standard design specifications and facilities mandated for
these zones; and
(f) the measures taken to ensure safety and welfare of truck
drivers during long-haul trips?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)(a) Road Accidents are multi-causal phenomenon and are the result of
interplay of various factors which are broadly categorized into (i)
human error (ii) road condition/environment and (iii) vehicular
condition.
(b) &(c) Truck lay-byes are constructed as per Manual of
Specifications and Standards issued by Indian Road Congress
(IRC:SP:87-2019/ IRC:SP:84-2019) for four/six lane-Highways. The
Government has also planned truckers' facilities and Wayside
Amenities (WSAs) at an interval of 40-60 km along National Highways
of four-lane and above configuration. The Truck lay-byes are in
general, provisioned near check barriers, inter-state borders, places of
conventional stops of the truck operators, etc. as a part of the
highway projects. As on date, 59 dedicated trucker facilities, in
addition to the Truck Lay-bye, are operational on National
Highways/Expressways.
(d) Land acquisition has been one of the reasons for delay in national
highway construction, including the development of WSAs.
(e) The truckers' facility includes dormitory, self-laundry, cooking
facility, provision for tractor-trolley coupling/decoupling, vehicle wash
area, open eating space with WiFi as mandatory facilities at WSAs on
National Highways/Expressways.
(f) The number of hours of work with adequate resting hours are
provisioned under Sections 13 to 20 of the Motor Transport Workers
Act, 1961. Further, vide GSR 886 E dated 8th December, 2023 the
Government has mandated vehicles manufactured on or after 1st
October, 2025, to be fitted with an air-conditioning system for the
cabin of vehicles of N2 (goods vehicle with gross vehicle weight
exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 12.0 tonnes) and N3 (goods
vehicle with gross vehicle weight exceeding 12.0 tonnes) categories.
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