More than 90 per cent of establishments, including dhabas and hotels along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, do not have the required licence from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Despite this, they continue operating as the civic body allows them to run without final approval from the authority. Following a mid-day cover page story on July 4 last year, NHAI officials have been issuing notices to these establishments. In response to stricter regulations, these businesses have started seeking provisional approval from NHAI for access to NH-48.

Most establishments have been using highway land for entry and exit without obtaining final approval from NHAI, which involves paying a licence fee and other charges. Sumit Kumar, manager (technical) of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway of NHAI, told mid-day, “These dhabas and hotels are running along highway but they have not been granted permission for construction of access to the NH-48. It is the reason, we have been issuing them notices since February. Now, the erring facilities, including dhabas and hotels, have started to approach us with access proposal applications,” Kumar told mid-day.