NHAI Intensifies Action Against Encroachments and Unauthorized Parking on National Highways

📌 Summary:

• NHAI intensified removal of unauthorized parking and encroachments along National Highways to improve road safety, in compliance with Supreme Court directions
• It identified 595 critical unauthorized-parking locations (with geo-coordinates) and is coordinating with State Governments, district administrations and enforcement agencies
• Encroachment removal is being undertaken under the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002; District Highway Safety Task Forces and nodal officers are being set up for inter-agency coordination
• Field offices directed to audit Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) components — traffic cameras, Video Incident Detection, Variable Speed Detection, Variable Message Signboards and Emergency Call Boxes — and ensure they are operational
• Ambulances, recovery vehicles, highway patrolling and ATMS-enforcement integration prioritised for faster incident response and safer freight/passenger movement

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Infrastructure and GS2 Governance — road-safety governance, statutory enforcement and inter-agency coordination on National Highways.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• NHAI = National Highways Authority of India (statutory body, NHAI Act 1988)
• Legal basis for encroachment removal: Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002
• 595 critical unauthorized-parking locations identified
• ATMS = Advanced Traffic Management System

🔑 Key Term: Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) — an integrated suite of cameras, incident-detection and message-display systems used to monitor and manage highway traffic and respond to incidents.