Is Your Home or Shop Near a National Highway? The Supreme Court Order That Could Change the Rules
A tragic highway accident has triggered a Supreme Court intervention that could affect thousands of homes, shops, restaurants and commercial properties along National Highways across India. The biggest numbers to remember are 40 metres, 75 metres and the highway Right of Way (ROW). But there is also considerable confusion. Does a shop within 75 metres have to be demolished? What happens to an existing house within 40 metres? Can a house be converted into a shop? Can an existing business renew its licence? The answers are more nuanced than some alarming social-media messages suggest. It Started With 34 Deaths What triggered the case On 2–3 November 2025 , two serious highway accidents occurred in: Phalodi, Rajasthan — a tempo traveller carrying pilgrims crashed into a stationary heavy vehicle, killing 15 people. Rangareddy, Telangana — another highway collision killed 19 people. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance on 10 November 2025, viewing the deaths as potentially ...