The court has taken cognizance of frequent road accidents in Rajasthan and Telangana and issued strict directions on road safety, warning that expressways and national highways must not turn into “corridors of death.” It observed that deaths caused by administrative negligence or poor infrastructure amount to a failure of the state.
A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar noted that national highways make up only about 2% of the country’s total road network but account for nearly 30% of road fatalities. The court emphasized that the “right to life” under Article 21 of the Constitution includes the right to a safe and orderly road environment.
Details of the order, passed on April 13, have now surfaced. The directions came in a suo motu case initiated after horrific road accidents in Rajasthan and Telangana in 2025 that claimed 34 lives.
Major guidelines issued by the Supreme Court:
1. Strict rules on highways:
Parking of heavy or commercial vehicles on national highways is strictly prohibited and allowed only in designated lay-by or parking areas.
2. Surveillance through technology:
Implementation of an Advanced Traffic Management System, including cameras, speed detectors, real-time alerts, and e-challans for strict monitoring.
3. Roadside facilities:
States must develop truck lay-bys, wayside amenities, and emergency facilities so vehicles do not stop or disrupt traffic on highways.
4. Action against illegal constructions:
Immediate ban on new dhabas, shops, or commercial structures within highway right-of-way areas. Existing illegal constructions must be removed within 60 days. No licenses or NOCs should be issued without permission from NHAI/PWD, and previously issued licenses must be reviewed within 30 days.
