In a major road safety initiative, the Kerala government has announced a 24×7 highway enforcement mechanism by dividing the state’s national highways into six dedicated enforcement zones. The move aims to curb overspeeding, reduce traffic violations, and improve road safety across Kerala’s expanding national highway network.
The decision follows a recent road accident on National Highway 66 near Kuttipuram in Malappuram district, where a private bus travelling on the Kozhikode–Thrissur route overturned, reportedly due to overspeeding. The incident claimed one life and left 26 passengers injured, prompting the government to strengthen highway enforcement.
According to Transport Minister C. P. John, the national highway network will be divided into six stretches of approximately 100 kilometres each. Dedicated enforcement teams will patrol every zone round the clock throughout the week to ensure stricter monitoring of vehicle speeds and traffic compliance.
The six enforcement zones have been distributed across the state, with two southern zones operating under the Deputy Transport Commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram, one central zone each under the Deputy Transport Commissioners of Ernakulam and Thrissur, and two northern zones under the Deputy Transport Commissioner, Kozhikode.
To implement the initiative, the Motor Vehicles Department will establish special enforcement squads by deploying personnel from Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), Enforcement RTOs, and Sub-RTOs. Each squad will include Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs), Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors (AMVIs), drivers, and departmental vehicles equipped with enforcement tools required for highway surveillance and traffic regulation.
The dedicated teams will focus on detecting overspeeding, reckless driving, overloading, and other traffic violations while ensuring prompt enforcement across the identified highway stretches. Continuous patrols are expected to improve compliance with traffic regulations and enhance the safety of motorists using Kerala’s national highways.
Kerala has witnessed rapid expansion of its highway infrastructure in recent years, particularly along the NH-66 corridor, resulting in increased traffic volumes and higher vehicle speeds. The state government believes sustained enforcement, combined with improved road infrastructure, will help reduce accident rates and encourage safer driving practices.
The six-zone enforcement model is expected to provide quicker response to violations, strengthen coordination among transport authorities, and establish a more systematic approach to highway safety. The initiative forms part of Kerala’s broader efforts to reduce road fatalities and improve traffic management through continuous monitoring and targeted enforcement on major transport corridors.
