The Chhattisgarh High Court has issued a stern rebuke to the state government for persistent safety lapses on national highways, demanding immediate corrective action to prevent accidents. The court's intervention came after reviewing a detailed report by the court commissioner and an affidavit from the Chief Secretary, which highlighted critical infrastructure gaps.
Court Takes Cognizance of Commissioner's Alarming Report
The Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal took on record a report submitted by court commissioner and counsel Apoorva Tripathi, dated 16 December 2025. The report pinpointed dangerous "black spots" on key stretches, including the Sipat–Baloda–Korba and Raipur–Bilaspur (NH‑130) highways. It specifically flagged the heightened risks during fog and smog conditions, recommending urgent engineering solutions.
These recommended measures include installing high-visibility reflective studs, delineators at curves and ghat sections, reflective chevron signs at identified black spots, and advanced fog-detection and warning systems linked to traffic control rooms.
Failure to Remove Hazardous Structures Draws Ire
The court expressed deep dissatisfaction over the state's failure to adhere to its own timelines for removing hazardous structures encroaching on highways. Despite prior assurances in state affidavits, a dhaba and a liquor shop located perilously close to the national highway at Nagar Panchayat Sargaon were not removed promptly.
The court noted that while the dhaba was eventually demolished on 17 December 2025—a delay documented with a submitted panchnama—the liquor shop continues to operate at the same accident-prone location. The Chief Secretary, in his affidavit, admitted the shop is still functional but promised its relocation on an "emergent basis" within 30 days.
Stringent Deadlines and Specific Directives Issued
Taking a no-nonsense approach, the High Court has directed the Chief Secretary to take "immediate and effective remedial steps" on the specified highway stretches. He has been ordered to personally ensure that no accidents, especially those related to fog and smog, occur due to a lack of basic safety infrastructure.
The court has effectively adopted the commissioner's report as a roadmap, ordering the state and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to implement specific measures within tight deadlines:
- Installation of anti-fog delineators and high-intensity reflective road studs every 5 metres on ghat sections and black spots.
- Placement of reflective chevrons and edge delineators to aid lane-keeping in low visibility.
- Mandatory solar-powered amber blinkers at all median openings and sharp curves.
- Application of retro-reflective taping on bridge parapets, electric poles, and crash barriers.
- Setting up fog-detection sensors connected to district traffic control rooms and variable message signboards for real-time driver alerts.
The Chief Secretary and the NHAI regional officer have been directed to file fresh, detailed affidavits by 21 January 2026. These affidavits must specify every action taken and step initiated, moving beyond mere assurances to demonstrate full compliance. The court emphasized the need for concrete results to safeguard lives on Chhattisgarh's highways.
