Maharashtra orders demolition of illegal dhabas on highways within 60 days

Following a rise in accidents on the national highway in Nagpur, the Supreme Court has taken a strict stand, after which Maharashtra's urban development department has issued stringent directions to all municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the state. To ensure strict compliance with the order passed by the court on a writ petition filed before it, the state government has issued a new government resolution.

According to the government's notification, under the directions given by the Supreme Court on 13 April 2026 and a meeting held on 22 July 2026 under the chairmanship of the chief secretary, all local bodies in the state have been ordered to comply with these rules immediately and in full.

Under this decision, an immediate ban has been imposed on constructing or operating any new dhaba, food stall or commercial structure within the right of way of the national highway. Citing the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act and a standard operating procedure dated 7 August 2025, the notification directs district collectors to demolish all new or old unauthorised structures within 60 days.

For locations falling within the highway safety zone, no department, authority or local body will issue or renew any new licence, no-objection certificate or trade permission without prior approval from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or the Public Works Department (PWD).

The government has also directed a review of all previously granted licences for such locations within 30 days. The notification also makes clear that local bodies must keep existing laws, rules and government resolutions in mind while implementing these directions, and ensure that there is no contempt of the Supreme Court's order under any circumstances.

In districts through which the national highway passes, district collectors have been asked to set up a District Highway Safety Task Force within 7 days of the order. This task force will include officers from the district administration, police, NHAI, the relevant land-owning agency, PWD and local bodies.

To ensure timely removal of encroachments, the district collector and the police commissioner or superintendent of police will be jointly accountable. The task force will hold a review meeting every 15 days to keep continuous watch on illegal construction and encroachment along highways.