Supreme Court pushes NHAI to deploy surveillance at toll plazas amid highway safety concerns

A two-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta identified unauthorised encroachments and stationary vehicles as two critical factors compromising highway safety during hearings on a suo motu case triggered by a major accident in Phalodi, Rajasthan. The court questioned why the NHAI had not implemented comprehensive camera surveillance and monitoring infrastructure at toll plazas across the national highway network.

NHAI counsel informed the bench that the authority has issued circulars mandating regular inspections and patrols to prevent unauthorised vehicle parking on highways. However, the court pressed for more proactive technological solutions, suggesting that monitoring rooms at toll plazas could provide real-time oversight and rapid response capabilities.

Senior advocate ANS Nadkarni, assisting the court as amicus curiae, highlighted illegal parking on highways as a significant contributor to road accidents. The bench's intervention reflects growing judicial concern about preventable traffic fatalities linked to infrastructure vulnerabilities and inadequate surveillance mechanisms.

The case underscores ongoing road safety challenges on India's national highways, where enforcement of traffic regulations and real-time monitoring remain inconsistent. The court's directive appears aimed at leveraging technology to enhance accountability and reduce accidents caused by improper vehicle placement on busy highway corridors.