Lok Sabha Question No. 3146 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-18
Subject: Unauthorised Occupation of Green Belts on National Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Varun Chaudhry

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3146

## ANSWER ON 18 th  DECEMBER, 2025

UNAUTHORISED OCCUPATION OF GREEN BELTS ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

3146. SHRI VARUN CHAUDHRY:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that green belts along National Highways in the National Capital Region are encroached or under unauthorised occupation and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the quantum of land under encroachment in the National Capital Region along National Highways and the details of action initiated to remove the encroachments along with the time frame by which the  encroachments  would  be  removed  in  order  to  reduce  air pollution?

## ANSWER

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) The removal of unauthorised occupation from National Highways land  is  a  continuous  process,  though  no  specific  report  regarding encroachment on the green belts, i.e., the strip  plantations,  along the  National  Highways  in  the  National  Capital  Region  has  been received by the Government.

(b)  The  details  of  unauthorised  occupation  on  National  Highways (NH) reported in the National Capital Region (NCR) are as under:

| Number occupations 01.04.2025 to 25.11.2025   | of         | unauthorised Number of Column (1)   | unauthorised   |
|-----------------------------------------------|------------|-------------------------------------|----------------|
|                                               | identified | from occupations                    | removed        |
| (1)                                           |            |                                     | (2)            |
|                                               | 256        |                                     | 151            |

The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, vide Gazette Notification S.O.4540 (E) dated 06.10.2025 has reconstituted the body of Highway Administration. The power of removal of unauthorised occupation under Sections 26, 27, 36 & 43 of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 has also been delegated to the District Magistrates for effective action against unauthorised occupation.

The Government has also issued Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on 07.08.2025 under the Highways Administration Rules, 2004 for identification, reporting and removal of unauthorised occupations  on  National  Highways.  Further,  the  responsibility  of Contractor/Concessionaire/Authority Engineer/Independent Engineer/Supervision Consultant, as defined in the respective agreement has been reasserted. Additionally, provisions for periodical  Drone  Survey  along  with  AI-based  data  analysis  and Aerial Imaging have also been made for regular monitoring.

For  the  involvement  of  citizens  in  reporting  encroachment/ unauthorised occupation, provision of Rajmarg Yatra App and wider publicity of the same has been done through social media.

To reduce the air pollution on account of congestion on National Highways  in  NCR,  appropriate  de-congestion  measures  such  as enhancement  and  upgradation  works  of  the  National  Highway Network are taken up. In addition to this plantation has also been done at feasible locations along National Highways.

*****