The Maharashtra government has prohibited hotels, dhabas, and commercial establishments on national highway Rights of Way (ROW), ordering local authorities to demolish unauthorized structures within 60 days. Following Supreme Court safety directives, district task forces will enforce the ban to curb illegal parking and reduce road accidents.
MUMBAI — The Maharashtra government on August 10, 2026, issued strict executive orders prohibiting the construction and operation of all new and existing dhabas, hotels, eateries, and commercial structures within the Right of Way (ROW) of national highways across the state. Urban local bodies, municipal corporations, and district administrations have been directed to demolish and remove all unauthorized encroachments within a 60-day deadline. The state Urban Development Department issued the directive in compliance with a Supreme Court mandate regarding highway safety and traffic hazard mitigation. The policy aims to eliminate illegal roadside parking and unmonitored commercial entry points that contribute significantly to high-speed vehicular crashes.
Directives Mandate 60-Day Removal of Illegal Establishments
Under the newly issued notification, all municipal corporations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats across Maharashtra are required to strictly enforce the ban within their respective jurisdictions. The Right of Way represents the entire strip of land acquired and reserved by government authorities for highway infrastructure and future expansion.
District Magistrates have been granted direct authority to oversee the clearance of unauthorized roadside businesses. Furthermore, local authorities are barred from issuing any new commercial licenses, trade approvals, or No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for sites falling within designated highway safety zones without prior written clearance from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or the Public Works Department (PWD). Authorities must also review all previously granted licenses within 30 days.
Supreme Court Mandate and Land-Use Buffer Zones
The state government's action follows directions issued by the Supreme Court in a suo motu writ petition addressing highway fatalities. The apex court held that the right to safe passage on public roads constitutes an integral component of the Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
In addition to clearing the Right of Way, the Supreme Court instructed the state government to issue notifications restricting land-use changes alongside national highways. Under these regulations, land-use conversion is prohibited within 40 meters for residential developments and 75 meters for commercial projects, measured directly from the midpoint of the national highway. The restrictions align with safety standards established by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
District Task Forces to Drive Enforcement and Monitoring
To ensure compliance across regional networks, the state government mandated the immediate creation of a District Highway Safety Task Force in every district intersected by a national highway. Formed under the leadership of the District Collector, each task force will comprise key officials from:
District Administration and Revenue Offices
Maharashtra State Police and Traffic Police Branch
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
Public Works Department (PWD)
Local Municipal Bodies and Urban Local Bodies
The District Collector, along with the district Superintendent of Police or city Commissioner of Police, holds joint responsibility for ensuring timely demolition and sustained removal of roadside encroachments. Task forces are required to hold review meetings every fortnight to evaluate clearance progress and maintain administrative logs.
Impact on Highway Travelers, Hospitality Businesses, and Logistics
The enforcement drive significantly alters the roadside economy along major arterial routes, including the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Samruddhi Mahamarg, and National Highway 48.
Travelers and Commuters: Removing illegally parked heavy vehicles in front of unapproved eateries reduces sudden lane obstructions, mitigating high-speed rear-end collisions.
Commercial Operators: Informal dhaba owners operating without NHAI clearance face immediate business closures and structural demolition. Approved hospitality ventures must re-verify their distance compliance and municipal permissions.
Logistics and Transport: Freight operators will be restricted from stopping along undesignated highway shoulders or unapproved eateries, requiring reliance on formal truck lay-by facilities planned by transport authorities.
Official Sources Section
According to official releases and court filings:
Government of Maharashtra: Urban Development Department Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 10, 2026.
Supreme Court of India: Directives issued in Phalodi Accident vs. National Highways Authority of India.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): Right of Way (ROW) boundary maps and Indian Roads Congress (IRC) land-use safety guidelines.
Quote Section
"According to officials from the Urban Development Department, all municipal bodies and district collectors must ensure strict compliance with the Supreme Court order without exception," stated government representatives during the issuance of the directive. "District Magistrates and police authorities hold joint responsibility to enforce the complete removal of unauthorized commercial structures within 60 days to ensure highway transit safety across Maharashtra."
Why It Matters
National highways account for a disproportionate share of severe traffic accidents due to high travel speeds and uncontrolled road entry points. Restricting roadside commercial operations to designated zones eliminates hazardous blind spots, illegal shoulder parking, and pedestrian foot traffic on high-speed express corridors. For the broader public, enforcing strict ROW boundaries aligns highway infrastructure with constitutional safety guarantees.
Key Facts at a Glance
Scope of Order: Complete ban and demolition of unauthorized hotels, dhabas, and commercial structures within national highway ROWs.
Enforcement Timeline: 60-day mandatory deadline for local authorities and District Magistrates to remove encroachments.
Buffer Zone Mandate: Land-use conversion restricted within 40 meters (residential) and 75 meters (commercial) from the highway centerline.
Monitoring Mechanism: Establishment of District Highway Safety Task Forces conducting bi-weekly compliance reviews.
FAQ Section
Q1: What is the Right of Way (ROW) on a National Highway?
Right of Way refers to the dedicated strip of land acquired and reserved by highway authorities for the construction, maintenance, and expansion of road infrastructure.
Q2: What is the deadline for removing illegal structures along Maharashtra highways?
State authorities and District Magistrates have been ordered to complete all demolitions and clear roadside encroachments within 60 days.
Q3: Can local municipal bodies grant new licenses to dhabas near national highways?
No. Local bodies are strictly prohibited from issuing trade approvals or NOCs for sites within highway safety zones without prior written clearance from NHAI or PWD.
Q4: How far from the highway centerline must commercial structures be built?
Commercial land-use changes are restricted up to 75 meters from the midpoint of the national highway, while residential changes are restricted up to 40 meters.
Source: Official notifications from the [suspicious link removed] and directives issued by the Supreme Court of India.
