Srinagar, Aug 18: In a bid to remove encroachments and identify accident-prone locations, the Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted District Highway Safety Task Forces (DHSTF) across the Union Territory, with respective District Magistrates asked to lead the panels as Chairpersons.
The step comes at a time when road accidents along National Highways continue to claim precious lives, shattering the dreams of many families. Recent data tabled by the Centre in the Lok Sabha revealed that Jammu and Kashmir recorded 1,109 road accidents on National Highways in 2026, in which 206 people lost their lives and 1,658 others were injured.
According to details accessed by Rising Kashmir, the DHSTFs have been constituted in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order dated April 13, 2026, passed in WP(C) No. 9 of 2025, titled In Re: Phalodi Accident vs. NHAI & Ors.
The order states that the DHSTF will be headed by the District Magistrate, while the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Additional Deputy Commissioner or Sub Divisional Magistrate (to be nominated by the Chairperson), Assistant Regional Transport Officer concerned, Representative of the Executing Agency (NHAI, NHIDCL, Public Works (R&B) Department or any other concerned agency), Representative of Traffic Police not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Representative of the Urban Local Body concerned will be the Members. The Chairperson may co-opt any other member as may be necessary for the effective discharge of the Task Force’s mandate.
The DHSTFs have been tasked with monitoring the implementation of directions issued by the Supreme Court in the aforementioned case. Their key responsibilities include monitoring removal of encroachments and unauthorised access points on National Highways and other major roads, reviewing regulation of land use adjoining highways and recommending corrective measures in coordination with concerned agencies, overseeing highway surveillance, enforcement activities, traffic management measures and other road safety initiatives, identifying accident-prone locations and recommending engineering, enforcement and awareness interventions for mitigation of road accidents, ensuring coordination among all stakeholder departments and agencies for effective implementation of road safety measures, and submitting periodic reports to the Government through the Administrative Department concerned regarding compliance and progress achieved.
The Task Forces have also been directed to perform such other functions relating to highway safety and implementation of the directions of the Supreme Court as may be assigned by the Government from time to time.
The Task Forces have been directed to hold meetings at least once every fortnight and review the status of compliance with road safety measures within their respective districts.
