Nagaland bars new structures along highways

DIMAPUR, JUL 30 (NPN): The Nagaland government has prohibited the construction or operation of any new dhaba, eatery or commercial structure within the Right of Way (RoW) of all National Highways with immediate effect.
In a notification, the Department of Works & Housing (Works Branch) said the directive was issued in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders dated April 13 and July 13, 2026, in Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 9 of 2025 (Phalodi accident vs National Highways Authority of India and others).
The department directed all deputy commissioners to strictly enforce the demolition and removal of all new or existing unauthorised structures located within the Right of Way of National Highways in accordance with the Supreme Court’s judgment.
It said the enforcement process would be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the CNH Act and the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dated August 7, 2025.
The directive follows Supreme Court orders issued in April after fatal highway accidents in Rajasthan and Telangana.
Observing that national highways account for nearly 30% of road fatalities despite constituting only about 2% of India’s road network, the apex court ordered the removal of unauthorised dhabas and commercial structures within highway Right of Way (RoW), prohibited new constructions in highway safety zones, and directed strict enforcement by highway authorities and state administrations to improve road safety.