Maharashtra Orders Removal of Highway Encroachments Within 60 Days
MUMBAI — The Maharashtra government has directed all municipal corporations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats across the state to strictly enforce Supreme Court orders regarding the removal of unauthorised structures and encroachments along national highways.
The Urban Development Department issued a government circular on Monday following directions issued by the Supreme Court on April 13, 2026. The apex court's orders were passed in the suo motu writ petition Phalodi Accident versus National Highways Authority of India, alongside Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1100 of 2025.
Under the directive, the state has set a 60-day deadline for the removal or demolition of both new and existing unauthorised structures located within the Right of Way of national highways. The construction or operation of any new eatery, dhaba, or commercial structure within the Right of Way has been prohibited with immediate effect.
District Magistrates have been assigned the responsibility of enforcing these demolitions in accordance with relevant laws and the Standard Operating Procedure dated August 7, 2025.
The state government has also tightened rules governing commercial establishments near highways. No government department, local body, or authority can issue or renew a licence, trade approval, or No Objection Certificate for sites inside highway safety zones without prior clearance from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or the Public Works Department (PWD). Authorities must review all existing licences for these establishments within 30 days.
To oversee the implementation, a District Highway Safety Task Force will be set up in every district traversed by a national highway. Each task force will comprise representatives from the district administration, police, NHAI or the land-owning agency, PWD, and local bodies.
The District Collector alongside the local Commissioner of Police or Superintendent of Police will hold joint responsibility for ensuring that encroachments are cleared on time. The task forces are mandated to hold review meetings every fortnight and maintain detailed records of their proceedings.
Additionally, state authorities must issue notifications within 60 days restricting land-use changes within 40 metres for residential purposes and 75 metres for commercial purposes from the midpoint of national highways, adhering to Indian Road Congress norms.
The state government warned local authorities to ensure full compliance without any violation or contempt of the Supreme Court's mandate.
