Strict Timeline Set for Removal of Unauthorised Buildings on NH‑48, Collector Announces

In a decisive move to address the lingering problem of unauthorised constructions along the Mumbai‑Ahmedabad National Highway, District Collector Dr. Indu Rani Jakhad has mandated that the National Highway Authority clear all flagged encroachments within fifteen days. The directive follows a high‑level review meeting where the authority’s past performance and the causes of prolonged inaction were scrutinised.

The collector made it unequivocally clear that once the highway’s right‑of‑way is delineated, the onus of removing illegal structures rests entirely with the NHA. Any justification based on jurisdictional ambiguity will be rejected. To enforce the order, a cross‑agency inspection panel—including officials from the NHA, the Forest Department, Vasai‑Virar Municipal Corporation and local tahsildars—will conduct on‑ground verification, using the control line as the baseline for identifying violations.

Particular attention has been directed toward the Tungareshwar zone, where several illegal settlements have been recorded. The Forest Department has been tasked to submit a comprehensive inventory of forest‑area infringements. The collector has also stipulated that a clear, itemised report detailing the number of identified encroachments and the status of their removal must be presented to the district administration before the fifteen‑day deadline expires.

To avoid any law‑and‑order setbacks, the police have been ordered to provide necessary support and to assist in the issuance of legal notices where needed. The collector warned that any department exhibiting negligence, undue delay, or refusal to comply will face serious repercussions, including escalation to senior officials. Continuous oversight and scheduled compliance reviews will be instituted to ensure the removal drive proceeds without interruption.