Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh today announced that the passage of the Himachal Pradesh Road Infrastructure Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by the Vidhan Sabha marks a decisive step toward safeguarding and modernizing the state’s road network. He emphasized that these amendments aim to make enforcement faster, more transparent, and accountable, while simplifying departmental procedures for the public.
A major feature of the amended legislation is the introduction of digital and geo-coordinated mapping for all road boundaries across the state. Once mapped, physical demarcations will no longer be required for enforcement, significantly speeding up processing times for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and permissions related to roadside construction and access.
The new provisions also empower the Public Works Department to execute immediate repairs on damaged roads, bridges, and drainage systems, with the restoration costs and penalties recovered directly from those responsible. Additionally, PWD officials are now authorized to temporarily restrict or close specific road stretches to carry out essential maintenance safely during emergency situations.
In a major relief for citizens, the amendment rationalizes penalties by decriminalizing minor contraventions. Criminal prosecution will now be strictly limited to serious offenses, such as obstructing authorized officers, ignoring stoppage orders, or willfully failing to pay fines. Furthermore, the timeframe for filing public objections has been extended, and a new appellate mechanism at the Superintending Engineer level has been established to resolve grievances closer to the public.
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