Confusion over road margins: Here's what residents must keep in mind

Several highway construction projects are underway across the district, affecting residents living on land adjacent to the highways. Many are losing portions of their land due to highway expansion, and there is widespread confusion about the remaining land post-expansion.

The rule mandating a margin of land to be left from the highway has been in place for some time, but many residents in previous years faced difficulties for not adhering to it.

The National Highway from Hebri to Malpe and roads under the Public Works Department (PWD) are currently under development in certain areas of the district. According to the regulations, in areas with dense buildings (urban areas), a 21-meter margin must be maintained from the center of the road, while in rural areas with fewer buildings, a 40-meter margin is required for any construction, including buildings or other structures.

These rules also apply to district main roads and PWD roads, though the margin requirements may differ. Residents must submit proper documents to the relevant road development authority to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

Citizens owning land along the Hebri-Malpe 169A highway who wish to construct buildings must ensure they maintain the required margin from the highway. They are required to submit land and building plans, along with their contact information, to the highway department’s sub-division office in Sringeri. Documents can be submitted either in person or by mail.

For roads under Gram Panchayat or PWD jurisdiction, documents must be submitted to the respective district or sub-division offices to obtain an NOC. Once the NOC is obtained, an application can be made to the local urban administration or Gram Panchayat for a building license.

For NH-66, between Kundapur and Hejamady, NOCs can be obtained from the Project Director at the Highway Authority’s Mangaluru office. Similarly, for the stretch from Kundapur to Karwar, the NOC must be obtained from the Project Director at the Karwar office. The margin rules apply to all national highways.

Temporary sheds or small plants can be grown within the margin area, but permanent structures cannot be built.

Why Are Margin Rules Necessary?

Many residents build houses or structures along roads without obtaining an NOC from the relevant road development authority, instead securing licenses from local authorities or Gram Panchayats. This has led to legal complications for some.

Highway engineers have stated that the margin rules are primarily in place for safety, parking, and future highway expansion projects. These regulations ensure that highways can be widened without disrupting nearby structures in the future.