Removal of encroachment

(1) If any person has encroached upon the highway in violation of Section 48, the Highway Authority may order the removal of the same. (2) The person responsible for the encroachment shall be liable to pay the costs incurred for such removal. (1) Where in excercise of the powers conferred on it by section 48, the Highway Authority desired to close down any highway or part thereof, permanently, it shall give notice of its intention to do so by notification in the official Gazette. The notification shall also be published in atleast two news papers, one of which shall be in Hindi language. (2) The notice shall indicate the alternative route, if any, which is proposed to be provided or which may already be in existence, and shall also invite objections, if any, to the proposal to be submitted within such time as may be specified. (3) The Highway Authority shall finalise its proposal to close down any Highway or part of it after considering the objections, if any, received within the specified time and shall submit the final proposal to the State Government for approval together with such objections as may have been received against the proposal. (4) The State Government may either approve the proposal, with or without modification or reject it. (5) When the State Government approves the proposal it shall publish its orders in the official Gazette. (6) When the orders of the State Government have been published in the official Gazette, the Highway Authority shall arrange for further publicity to be given to the' orders in at least two news papers one of which shall be in the regional language of the place in which such highway is situated and the Highway or part thereof shall then be closed. (7) Whenever any Highway or any part thereof has been so closed reasonable compensation shall be paid to every person who was entitled, otherwise than as a mere member of the public, to use such highway or part thereof as a means of access to or from his property and has suffered damage for such closure.