Union Minister and Kerala MP Suresh Gopi has warned that strict action will be taken against vehicles illegally parked on national highways. His remarks come in the wake of a deadly road accident near Thrissur.
A car reportedly rammed into a goods lorry that was standing on the national highway, killing eight students who were travelling in the car. The incident has raised questions about safety enforcement and road readiness.
Gopi said he has spoken to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and issued a strong warning, alleging that there appears to be an attempt to evade responsibility. He also questioned whether the highway had, in practice, been properly opened for public use.
Pointing to procedural lapses, he said there is a formal process for declaring a road open and that diversion signboards were not placed correctly. Calling the lorry driver’s act a serious offence, he urged authorities to focus on corrective action rather than blame-shifting.
He added that he spoke to the state Home Minister and said intensified monitoring and patrolling would be carried out on highways. Officials also discussed imposing fines ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 for violations, and he reiterated that illegal parking will face stringent measures.
