NHAI, GMR to launch drive on National Highway from Zirakpur to Lalru Satinder Pal Singh Dera Bassi, June 26 The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), along with GMR Expressway Ambala-Chandigarh Highway Private Limited, is all set to launch a drive to remove encroachments, including illegal parking of vehicles, and illegal access from Right of Way (RoW) on the National Highway. It is pertinent to mention that following the reports of the NHAI and GMR Expressway Ambala-Chandigarh Highway Pvt Ltd, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pooja Siyal had directed the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dera Bassi, to fix date and time with the GMR to conduct the drive for the removal of encroachments, unauthorised parking and illegal access from RoW on the National Highway between Zirakpur and Lalru. The SDM has also asked to submit the report within a fortnight. GMR officials said the team conducted a survey last month and identified 79 unauthorised illegal access points on the National Highway between Zirakpur and Lalru. During the survey, the team found that various establishments like dhabas and factories have come up along the National Highway illegally. These establishments are safety hazards for traffic plying on the highway as they allow illegal access and parking of vehicles, the officials said. The officials stated that they had also appealed to all roadside establishments to close illegal access activities at their level and apply for legal access to their establishments. Following the directions of the NHAI, the GMR had even served notices on encroachers in the past, but to no avail. The officials said the owners of various establishments along the Zirakpur-Lalru stretch had not only encroached upon the highway but also diverted illegal routes paving the way for commuters to enter these eateries/dhabas and park their vehicles. The officials stated that on a number of occasions, their access was cut but the owners again fill these trenches paving way for the commuters. GMR officials said field officers had been directed to start a special drive to terminate this illegal access, remove encroachments, if any, including illegal parking of vehicles along the National Highway, with the help of the local police and the district administration, and lodge a police complaint against such defaulters.

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