The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced a new feature in the ‘Rajmargyatra’ mobile application to report unauthorised parking on National Highways. The Ministry has also requested all the state governments to assist in the removal of such unauthorised occupations. The new feature in the mobile application will enable users to report unauthorised occupation of National Highways. There are instances of ribbon development, unauthorised parking, encroachments on or along National Highways (NHs).Centre advises States, Union Territories to use plastic waste for road constructionTo tackle the challenge of plastic waste management, the central government has recently advised states and Union Territories to use plastic waste up to 8 percent of the weight of bitumen in roads within cities, including internal roads of housing colonies and office complexes. In 2015, a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) order made it mandatory to use plastic waste mixed with bitumen in roads with a population of 0.5 million and above. According to the latest Central Pollution Control Board [CPCB] figures, 4.12 tonnes of plastic waste was generated in 2020-21. Around 60 percent of that was recycled. For each km of road with 3.75 m width, using 1 tonne of plastic waste mixed with bitumen can save `0.63 million, according to a 2019 MoHUA plastic waste management document.Goa seeks Rs.2.96 billion from the Centre to fix 15 black spotsThe state public works department (PWD) has sent a proposal of Rs.2.96 billion to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to deal with 15 black spots on highways across the state. They added that the funds have been requested for the financial year 2024-25. An area is classified as a black spot if over three years, five fatalities or 10 grievous injuries occur on a stretch of 500 m. The funds, once sanctioned by the Union ministry, will be used to implement safety aspects, junction improvements, road widening, etc., based on the road safety review provided by each division of the PWD. According to the central ministry’s directives, Goa has to eliminate all the identified black spots by 2025-26.Inadequate street lights on the Trichy-Thanjavur NH spark concernNon-functional and dimly lit street lights on the accident-prone Trichy-Thanjavur National Highway (NH) are giving nightmares to residents of the 10 densely populated wards of Trichy corporation, as they fear accident threats. Around 8 km stretch of the NH, between Palpannai junction and Thiruverumbur is a key entry point for vehicles coming from the delta districts into Trichy city. Despite being a connecting road to educational and industrial institutions like NIT Trichy and Bhel Trichy, at least 50 streetlights are not working for months, while the ones functioning are insufficient to illuminate the highway. Sources said the streetlights on the NH are managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).Plan to make NH nod mandatory for speed limit changes by statesTo end confusion about speed limits on national highways and expressways, the road transport ministry is working on an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act, making it mandatory for states to consult highway authorities before reducing maximum speed limit on any NH stretch within their jurisdiction. While national highways usually have a speed limit of 100 kmph, cars can go up to 120 kmph on expressways. But states have the final say in fixing the limit, depending on local conditions. State authorities notifying different speed limits on NHs than what the Centre has notified creates confusion among drivers, who don’t take such stretches frequently and this also becomes a source of corruption for local law enforcement agencies.