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Supreme Court Questions NHAI Over Lack Of Electronic Tracking For Parked Highway Vehicles
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News18•06-10-2026, 19:15
Supreme Court Questions NHAI Over Lack Of Electronic Tracking For Parked Highway Vehicles
- •The Supreme Court questioned the National Highways Authority of India regarding the absence of an electronic surveillance system to detect and track stationary vehicles on highways.
- •A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Augustine George Masih, and Sandeep Mehta emphasized that NHAI has the resources to implement a technology-based mechanism for immediate action.
- •The court's observations arose during the hearing of a suo motu case concerning the November 2025 Phalodi road accident in Rajasthan, which claimed 15 lives.
- •The apex court previously directed that heavy and commercial vehicles must not park on highway carriageways except in designated bays or amenities.
- •Data highlighted by the court shows that national highways account for approximately two percent of India's road length but nearly 30 percent of road fatalities.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court questioned the National Highways Authority of India regarding why it has failed to implement an electronic surveillance system to immediately track and detect stationary or parked vehicles on highways, which are a major cause of serious road accidents.
The proceedings arose from a suo motu case concerning the November 2025 Phalodi road accident in Rajasthan, where 15 people lost their lives after a tempo traveller crashed into a stationary trailer truck on the Bharat Mala Highway.
The apex court directed that heavy and commercial vehicles are strictly prohibited from parking or stopping on national highway carriageways or paved shoulders, except at designated bays, lay-bys, or wayside amenities.
