**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer given on December 18th, 2025, to Unstarred Question No. 3146 in Lok Sabha regarding unauthorised occupation of green belts on National Highways. It provides details on encroachment removal efforts in the National Capital Region (NCR), and actions taken to address this issue. The document also highlights measures to reduce air pollution and enhance highway management.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Encroachment Removal:**
* The removal of unauthorised occupation from National Highways land is an ongoing process.
* The Government has not received any specific report regarding encroachment on green belts (strip plantations) along National Highways in the National Capital Region.
* **Unauthorised Occupation Data (NCR):**
* From 01.04.2025 to 25.11.2025, 256 unauthorised occupations were identified.
* 151 unauthorised occupations were removed during the same period.
* **Highway Administration and Powers:**
* The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways reconstituted the Highway Administration (Gazette Notification S.O.4540 (E) dated 06.10.2025).
* District Magistrates have been delegated the power to remove unauthorised occupations under Sections 26, 27, 36 & 43 of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002.
* **Standard Operating Procedure (SoP):**
* An SoP was issued on 07.08.2025 under the Highways Administration Rules, 2004 for the identification, reporting, and removal of unauthorised occupations.
* Responsibility for reporting and removal of unauthorised occupation has been reasserted for Contractor/Concessionaire/Authority Engineer/Independent Engineer/Supervision Consultant.
* Periodic Drone Surveys with AI-based data analysis and Aerial Imaging has also been made for regular monitoring.
* **Citizen Involvement:**
* The Rajmarg Yatra App and social media are used to encourage citizens to report encroachment/unauthorised occupation.
* **Air Pollution Reduction:**
* De-congestion measures, enhancement, and upgradation works are being implemented to reduce air pollution on National Highways in NCR.
* Plantation is also done at feasible locations along National Highways.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Road Transport and Highways**
* **Impact:** Responsible for addressing unauthorised occupation and air pollution along National Highways.
* **Action Required:** Continue ongoing removal efforts, enforce SoP, utilize technology for monitoring, and implement de-congestion measures.
**District Magistrates**
* **Impact:** Given delegated power to take action against unauthorized occupation.
* **Action Required:** Utilize delegated powers to effectively address unauthorised occupation issues.
**Contractor/Concessionaire/Authority Engineer/Independent Engineer/Supervision Consultant**
* **Impact:** Reasserted responsibility for reporting and removal of unauthorised occupations.
* **Action Required:** Fulfill responsibilities as defined in their respective agreements, including reporting and facilitating removal of unauthorised occupations.
**Citizens**
* **Impact:** Encouraged to report encroachments.
* **Action Required:** Utilize Rajmarg Yatra App and other channels to report instances of encroachment/unauthorised occupation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The central ministry responsible for matters related to road transport and national highways, the primary government entity involved.
National Highways: The specific type of infrastructure targeted by the policy regarding unauthorized occupation of green belts.
National Capital Region: The geographic region where the reported instances of unauthorised occupation on National Highways are specified.
Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002: The act granting power of removal of unauthorised occupation on national highways.
Highways Administration Rules, 2004: The rules under which Standard Operating Procedures are issued for unauthorized occupations on National Highways.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3146
ANSWER ON 18th DECEMBER, 2025
UNAUTHORISED OCCUPATION OF GREEN BELTS ON NATIONAL
HIGHWAYS
3146. SHRI VARUN CHAUDHRY:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that green belts along National Highways in
the National Capital Region are encroached or under unauthorised
occupation and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the quantum of land under encroachment in the National Capital
Region along National Highways and the details of action initiated
to remove the encroachments along with the time frame by which
the encroachments would be removed in order to reduce air
pollution?
ANSWER
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The removal of unauthorised occupation from National Highways
land is a continuous process, though no specific report regarding
encroachment on the green belts, i.e., the strip plantations, along
the National Highways in the National Capital Region has been
received by the Government.(b) The details of unauthorised occupation on National Highways
(NH) reported in the National Capital Region (NCR) are as under:
Number of unauthorised Number of unauthorised
occupations identified from occupations removed against
01.04.2025 to 25.11.2025 Column (1)
(1) (2)
256 151
The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways, vide Gazette Notification S.O.4540 (E) dated 06.10.2025
has reconstituted the body of Highway Administration. The power of
removal of unauthorised occupation under Sections 26, 27, 36 & 43
of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 has
also been delegated to the District Magistrates for effective action
against unauthorised occupation.
The Government has also issued Standard Operating Procedure
(SoP) on 07.08.2025 under the Highways Administration Rules, 2004
for identification, reporting and removal of unauthorised
occupations on National Highways. Further, the responsibility of
Contractor/Concessionaire/Authority Engineer/Independent
Engineer/Supervision Consultant, as defined in the respective
agreement has been reasserted. Additionally, provisions for
periodical Drone Survey along with AI-based data analysis and
Aerial Imaging have also been made for regular monitoring.
For the involvement of citizens in reporting encroachment/
unauthorised occupation, provision of Rajmarg Yatra App and wider
publicity of the same has been done through social media.
To reduce the air pollution on account of congestion on National
Highways in NCR, appropriate de-congestion measures such as
enhancement and upgradation works of the National Highway
Network are taken up. In addition to this plantation has also been
done at feasible locations along National Highways.
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