(a) whether transportation on National Highways is being adversely affected due to settlement of densely populated hamlets, encroachment and increasing commercial constructions along the National Highways;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps taken by the Government to deal with the said problem; and
(d) the success achieved therefrom?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) to (c) There have been instances of the encroachments, increasingly commercial activities and densely populated areas along with the National Highways which affect the transportation. To remove such bottlenecks, the government is constructing bypasses and re-aligning National Highways to avoid the densely populated areas. Provisions of service roads in the congested areas are made to segregate local traffic while four-laning of two lane highways. Further, the Control of National Highways (Land & Traffic) Act, 2002 has been enforced since January 2005 to control encroachments, traffic, construction activities and access on the right of way of National Highways.
(d) The engineering measures like construction of bye-passes, realignment and service roads have helped in tackling the problem to a great extent. The problem of encroachments, commercial activities on National Highway are socio-legal problem and it is too early to review the effect of enforcement of the above mentioned Act.