Shillong: East Khasi Hills has banned heavy and commercial vehicles from parking on national highway carriageways and paved shoulders.Vehicles may park only at designated parking bays, lay-bys or wayside amenities, district magistrate Abhilash Baranwal ordered.“Heavy/commercial vehicles are being habitually parked on the carriageway/shoulder of national highways, obstructing traffic and endangering human life, in contravention of Section 122 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Highway Administration’s power under Section 35 of the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002,” Baranwal said.The order cited an April 13, 2026, Supreme Court directive prohibiting heavy and commercial vehicles from stopping or parking on national highway carriageways or paved shoulders, except at designated facilities.Citing an immediate threat to lives and traffic, Baranwal issued the ex parte order under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023.Effective Aug 7, 2026, the order will remain in force for two months unless withdrawn or modified earlier.Violations are punishable under Section 223 of the BNS. Offenders may also face action under Section 122, read with Section 177, of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
