Illegal Parking / Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan Urges CM Majhi to Act Against Illegal Parking of Heavy Vehicles on Highways

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, Oct 15: Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take strict measures against the illegal and dangerous parking of commercial vehicles along national and state highways in the state's major mining and industrial corridors, citing the growing risk of road accidents.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Pradhan highlighted how trucks parked in long queues along highways were creating serious road safety hazards. He attributed the problem to inadequate logistics management by mining companies and a lack of designated parking facilities for heavy vehicles.

Pradhan said the state government had the constitutional mandate and legal authority to address the issue and called for stricter enforcement of existing provisions to prevent accidents and ensure public safety.

Cites Supreme Court Directions On Highway Safety
In his letter, Pradhan referred to a reported Supreme Court order dated April 13, in a suo motu case, Suo Motu W.P. (C) No. 9 of 2025. He said the court had recognised safe movement on highways as an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

According to Pradhan, the directions prohibit the parking of heavy and commercial vehicles on national highways and designated traffic areas outside authorised parking facilities. He also referred to measures such as round-the-clock patrol teams, automated electronic challans and district road safety task forces, with district collectors and superintendents of police responsible for enforcement.

Seeks Strict Action Under Odisha Law
Pradhan also cited provisions of the Odisha State Highways Authority Act, 2025, arguing that they provide for penalties against drivers, transport operators and industrial companies violating road safety rules.

He referred to Section 28, which he said provides for fines ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 for dangerous road use, along with provisions for auctioning seized vehicles if fines remain unpaid after a month.

He also cited Sections 72 and 73 regarding the seizure of vehicles and their cargo, as well as the collection of parking charges. Section 69, he said, provides for imprisonment of up to six months and fines of up to Rs 20,000 for unsafe driving and overloading.

Pradhan further called for the enforcement of corporate liability provisions under Section 76 against companies whose negligence or poor logistics management contributes to road safety violations.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan Hails Cabinet Decisions on Social Security, Railway Staff Bonus

Calls For Holding Yards In Mining Areas
Seeking the Chief Minister's intervention, Pradhan urged the state government to direct the concerned departments to issue public awareness notices and strictly enforce vehicle seizure provisions.

He also called for action against mining and industrial companies whose transport operations cause congestion on highways. He recommended regular reviews by district road safety task forces and said mining operators should be required to establish off-highway holding yards with basic facilities to prevent trucks from queuing on public roads.

Pradhan stressed that human life must take precedence over industrial or administrative inconvenience. He expressed hope that swift legal action against violators would help transform Odisha's highways from accident-prone corridors into safer routes for development.