Kerala police chief tells Supreme Court of NH encroachment removal drive

Kerala DGP Ravada Chandrasekhar has filed an action-taken report in the Supreme Court, stating that district police chiefs have been ordered to remove unauthorised constructions and encroachments along national highways in the state. The drive is being coordinated with NHAI, PWD, the Revenue Department and local self-government institutions, Mathrubhumi reports.

The report says unauthorised shops, temporary structures, hoardings, autorickshaw stands and bus shelters are being removed. Licences for establishments within highway safety zones will not be renewed without an NOC from NHAI or PWD. The DGP also identified major black spots, accident-prone areas, including locations in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Wayanad and Kannur Rural, where police have intensified surveillance.

The Supreme Court had issued about a dozen directions in a suo motu case aimed at reducing road accidents on national highways.