**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' response to a Supreme Court directive concerning the unauthorized occupation of highway lands, from question 2002, answered on December 11th, 2025. The response details steps taken to curb unauthorized occupation, including the formation of surveillance teams, delegation of power to District Magistrates, and the issuance of Standard Operating Procedures. It also outlines citizen involvement through the Rajmarg Yatra App.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Supreme Court Directive:** The Supreme Court directed the Government to take steps to curb unauthorized occupations on National Highways and form police surveillance teams.
* **Implementation Measures:**
* Instructions issued to field officers to form surveillance teams, including local police, in coordination with Deputy Commissioners of Police/Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) for National Highway inspection.
* State Governments requested to provide support to field officers for prevention and removal of unauthorized occupation.
* **Highway Administration:**
* The Ministry has reconstituted the body of Highway Administration (Gazette Notification S.O.4540 (E) dated 06.10.2025)
* The power to remove unauthorized occupation under specified sections of the Control of NH (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002, has been delegated to the District Magistrate.
* **Standard Operating Procedure (SOP):** The Government issued an SOP (07.08.2025) for identifying, reporting, and removing unauthorized occupations on National Highways under the Highways Administration Rules, 2004.
* **Monitoring:** The responsibility of Contractor/Concessionaire/Authority Engineer/ Independent Engineer/Supervision Consultant has been reasserted. Provisions made for periodical Drone Survey with AI-based data analysis and Aerial Imaging for regular monitoring.
* **Citizen Involvement:** Provision of Rajmarg Yatra App and promotion through social media to involve citizens in reporting encroachment/unauthorized occupation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)**
* **Impact:** NHAI is responsible for implementing the Supreme Court's directive and government instructions to curb unauthorized occupation on highway lands.
* **Action Required:** NHAI must form surveillance teams, coordinate with local police and District Magistrates, and enforce the SOP for removing unauthorized occupations.
**Stakeholder: Field Officers of Implementing Agencies**
* **Impact:** Field officers are responsible for the on-the-ground implementation of measures to prevent and remove unauthorized occupations.
* **Action Required:** Field officers must constitute surveillance teams, conduct inspections, and enforce regulations to remove unauthorized occupations.
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact:** State Governments are responsible for providing necessary support and assistance to field officers.
* **Action Required:** State Governments need to ensure that field officers have the resources and support required to effectively prevent and remove unauthorized occupations.
**Stakeholder: District Magistrates**
* **Impact:** The District Magistrates are delegated with powers to remove unauthorized occupation under specified sections of the Control of NH (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002.
* **Action Required:** Take effective action against unauthorized occupation.
**Stakeholder: Contractor/Concessionaire/Authority Engineer/ Independent Engineer/Supervision Consultant**
* **Impact:** Entities responsible for overseeing the construction and maintenance of National Highways
* **Action Required:** To take responsibility for periodical Drone Survey with AI-based data analysis and Aerial Imaging for regular monitoring.
**Stakeholder: Citizens**
* **Impact:** Citizens can contribute to the process by reporting unauthorized occupations.
* **Action Required:** Citizens are encouraged to report encroachments/unauthorised occupation via the Rajmarg Yatra App.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): Key authority responsible for implementing measures to curb unauthorized occupation on highway lands.
Supreme Court: Directed the NHAI to take effective steps to curb unauthorized occupation of highway lands.
Control of NH (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002: Act that delegates the power of removal of unauthorised occupation.
Highways Administration Rules, 2004: Rules under which a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) was issued for identification, reporting and removal of unauthorised occupations on National Highways.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: Primary ministry overseeing the curbing of unauthorized occupation on highway lands.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2002
ANSWER ON 11th DECEMBER, 2025
UNAUTHORISED OCCUPATION ON HIGHWAY LANDS
2002. Dr. Ganapathy Rajkumar P:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क पररवहन एवं राजमार्ग मंत्रालय
be pleased to state:
(a) whether Supreme Court has recently directed National
Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to take effective steps to curb
unauthorized occupation of highway lands and form surveillance
teams of police officials to carry out patrolling;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by NHAI to implement the SC direction and
curb unauthorized occupation of highway lands?
ANSWER
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (c) In the matter of Writ Petition (Civil) 1272 of 2019, Supreme
Court has directed the Government to take up certain steps to curb
the unauthorised occupations from National Highways (NHs)
including formation of surveillance teams of Police Officials. In this
regard, the Government has issued instructions to field officers of
implementing agencies to constitute surveillance teams including
local police in coordination with the Deputy Commissioners of
Police/Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) for inspection of
National Highways. Further, requested the State Governments forproviding necessary support and assistance to field officers of
implementing agencies for prevention and removal of unauthorised
occupation on National Highways.
Government in 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 Section 26, 27, 36 & 43
of Control of NH (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 has also been
delegated to the District Magistrate for effective action against
unauthorized occupation.
The Government has also issued Standard Operating Procedure
(SoP) 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 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.
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