Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take strict action against illegal parking of heavy vehicles along national and state highways which poses serious threat to road safety in mining and industrial belts.
In a letter to Majhi, the Sambalpur MP said trucks parked in kilometre-long queues along highways due to inadequate logistics management by mining companies and a lack of designated parking facilities were endangering commuters and increasing the risk of accidents.
Citing a Supreme Court order of April 13, 2026, in a suo motu case, he said safe passage on highways was integral to the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The apex court had also issued interim directions prohibiting the parking of heavy and commercial vehicles outside designated areas, alongside measures such as round-the-clock patrolling, electronic challans and removal of illegally parked vehicles, he noted.
The senior leader also referred to provisions of the Odisha State Highways Authority Act, 2025, to press for strict enforcement against violators. He referred to penalties under Section 28, vehicle seizure provisions under Sections 72 and 73, and imprisonment and fines prescribed under Section 69 for offences involving unsafe driving and overloading.
Stressing the need for corporate accountability, the MP said Section 76 provided a basis for initiating legal proceedings against industrial and mining companies whose negligence or inadequate logistics arrangements contributed to highway congestion and safety violations.
He urged the Chief Minister to direct the concerned departments to launch public awareness campaigns, enforce vehicle seizure provisions and initiate action against companies responsible for transport-related violations.
Steps should also be taken to make it mandatory for mining operators to establish holding yards away from highways, equipped with basic facilities to accommodate heavy vehicles without disrupting traffic, he said.
The former Union Minister underlined the need to strengthen district road safety task forces and conduct regular reviews to ensure effective enforcement and accountability.