Chapter II DECLARATION OF HIGHWAYS, HIGHWAY AUTHORITIES AND THEIR POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

The State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare any road, way or land, which is for the time being vested in the State Government or which is under the control of the State Government, and which is required for the purpose of a highway, to be a highway and classify it as a State highway or a major district road or any other category of road.

The State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint such officers of the Public Works Department, as it thinks fit, to be Highway Authorities for all or any of the highways and define the limits and specify the parts of such highways within which each such authority shall exercise its powers and perform its duties.

Subject to such conditions as may be specified in the notification appointing a Highway Authority and subject to the general or special orders of the State Government, a Highway Authority shall exercise powers and discharge duties in accordance with the provisions of this Act for the restriction of ribbon development along highways, for the prevention and removal of encroachments and for all matters necessary and incidental to any or all of the above subjects. Subject to the approval of the State Government and to such general or special orders which the State Government may make in this behalf, it shall be lawful to a Highway Authority to undertake the construction, maintenance, development or improvement of highways.

For the purpose of enabling a Highway Authority to exercise the powers conferred and to discharge the duties imposed upon it by or under the provisions of this Act, the State Government may appoint such officers or servants as it deems necessary to work under such Authority.