31. Highway Administration to regulate traffic when Highway deemed
unsafe.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Highway Administration shall have the
power to regulate and control the plying of vehicles on the Highway for the proper management thereof.
(2) If at any time the Highway Administration is satisfied on the information received by it or
otherwise that any Highway within its jurisdiction or any part thereof is or has become congested or
unsafe for vehicular or pedestrian traffic by reason of damage or otherwise, it may, either close the
Highway or such part thereof to all traffic or to any class of traffic, or regulate the number and speed of
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vehicles to be used on the Highway or such part thereof, as the case may be, in the manner as it may deem
fit.
32. Prohibition of use of heavy vehicles on certain Highways.—Where the Highway
Administration is satisfied that the surface of a Highway or any part thereof, or any bridge, culvert or
causeway built on or across the Highway is not designed to carry vehicles of which the laden weight
exceeds a prescribed limit, it may, subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf, prohibit or restrict
the plying of such vehicles on or over such Highway or part thereof or such bridge, culvert or causeway,
as the case may be.
33. Temporary closure of traffic on Highway.—Where, in exercise of the powers under section 31
or section 32, the Highway Administration considers it proper for the purposes of that section to
temporarily close a Highway or part thereof or to restrict or regulate traffic on such Highway or part
thereof, it may do so in the manner as it may deem fit.
34. Permanent closure of Highway.—(1) Where, in exercise of the powers under section 31, the
Highway Administration deems it necessary in the interest of the safety of the Highway to close a
Highway or part thereof, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, give notice of its intention to the
public to do so specifying therein the time within which the objections and suggestions received shall be
considered under sub-section (3) and in addition to such notice, it shall also notify the contents of such
notice in at least two newspapers, one of which shall be in the local language of the area through which
such Highway passes and another shall be the newspaper being circulated in such area.
(2) The notice under sub-section (1) shall indicate the alternative route proposed to be provided in
lieu of the Highway or part thereof intended to be closed specifying therein as to whether such alternative
route shall be an already existing Highway or shall be newly constructed and shall also invite objections
and suggestions from the persons affected on such proposal within the time and to be addressed to the
officer as specified in such notice.
(3) The Highway Administration shall, after considering the objections and suggestions, if any,
received within the time specified in such notice, take decision on the proposal for closure under the
notice and shall act in accordance with such decision.
35. Power to restrict the use of vehicles.—If the Highway Administration is satisfied that it is
necessary in the interest of public safety or convenience, or because of the nature of any road or bridge so
to do, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit or restrict, subject to such exceptions or
conditions as may be specified in the notification, the use of any Highway or part thereof by a class or
classes of traffic either generally or on specified occasion or time as specified in the notification and when
such prohibition or restriction is imposed, the Highway Administration shall cause such traffic signs to be
placed or erected at suitable places for the convenience of the traffic as may be prescribed:
Provided that where any prohibition or restriction under this section is to be remained for a period of
one month or less, such prohibition or restriction may be imposed without issuing notification in the
Official Gazette:
Provided further that the prohibition or restriction imposed under the first proviso shall be published
widely for the knowledge of the users by other possible means.
36. Prevention and repair of damage to Highway.—(1) No person who is in charge of, or in
possession of, any vehicle or animal shall, wilfully or negligently, cause, or allow such vehicle or animal
to cause, any damage to any Highway.
(2) Where, in contravention of sub-section (1), any damage has been caused to any Highway, the
Highway Administration shall have such damage repaired at its own expenses and such expenses together
with fifteen per cent. thereof as additional charges shall, without prejudice to any other action which may
be taken against the person who has so contravened sub-section (1), be recovered from him in accordance
with the provisions contained in section 27 as if such expenses and additional charges were the expenses
and additional charges recoverable under that section.
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37. Prohibition to leave vehicles or animals in dangerous position.—(1) No person in charge of, or
in possession of, any vehicle or animal shall allow such vehicle or animal to stand or proceed on a
Highway unless the same is under such safety control as may be prescribed.
(2) Where, in contravention of sub-section (1), any obstruction on the Highway is caused, the vehicle
or animal causing such obstruction shall be caused to be towed away by the Highway Administration to
remove such obstruction on the Highway and the vehicle or animal so towed away shall be taken into
possession by the Highway Administration and shall be handed over to the owner thereof in the manner,
by payment to the Highway Administration, the expenses incurred in such removal, as may be prescribed.
(3) In case where the expenses in respect of the vehicle or animal taken into possession under
sub-section (2) have not been paid in the manner prescribed under that sub-section, the Highway
Administration shall sell such vehicle or animal by auction and the proceeds of the auction shall be the
property of the Central Government.
(4) Any person who has unauthorised occupation on a highway land shall be summarily evicted by
the Highway Administration in the manner specified in section 26 for removal of unauthorised occupation
and shall be liable to fine imposed by the Highway Administration which shall not be less than five
hundred rupees per square metre of the unauthorisedly occupied land by him but which may be extended
to the cost of such land.