Kanpur: A joint survey conducted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PWD) following directions from the Supreme Court has identified 940 encroachments along six major highways passing through the city.According to the survey report, 701 of the total encroachments were found on the stretch between IIT Kalyanpur and Rama Devi Crossing, making it the most heavily encroached section among the surveyed highways.The report further marked that 78 encroachments were identified on the Kanpur–Aligarh Highway, 88 on the Prayagraj Highway, 49 on the Bela–Chaubeypur State Highway and 12 on the Sandila–Bithoor–Chaubeypur Road.Officials said the survey was carried out to identify illegal constructions and encroachments affecting traffic safety and movement on national and state highways.NHAI sources said illegal shops and constructions on both sides of highways, coupled with unauthorized parking and vehicles stationed along roadsides, have narrowed carriageways, resulting in frequent traffic snarls and slow vehicular movement.A PWD source said that apart from encroachments, illegal parking of vehicles—especially heavy vehicles—on both sides of roads was a major problem. This often forces heavy vehicles to change lanes abruptly, leading to accidents.According to prescribed norms, national highways should have a width of 30 to 45 metres. However, within city limits, encroachments have reduced the effective width of several stretches, resulting in frequent traffic jams.Ravidatta Kumar, chief engineer, PWD, said the report would be submitted to the state administration. “Encroachments will be removed with the help of all concerned departments,” he said.
