The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday (June 30, 2025) issued notices to the Union Government, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and State authorities over the long traffic jam witnessed on the Mumbai-Agra national highway between Indore and Dewas in the recent days.

Hearing a petition filed by a Dewas based lawyer Anand Adhikari, a Division Bench of Justices Vivek Rusia and Binod Kumar Dwivedi in Indore also issued notice through the NHAI to a construction company, building a road on the stretch.

Over the past few days, long queues of vehicles were witnessed on the highway, causing over 30 hours of traffic jam on Friday. The stretch of about 35 kilometres between Indore and Dewas currently has construction going on at multiple locations, leaving a narrow lane for the vehicles to pass. Reports also said that at least three people died while being stuck in the jam, including one by a heart attack.

The chaotic situation prompted Indore authorities to deploy officials and police personnel at various points, especially where the construction is going on, along the highway to oversee the traffic management.

The High Court also said that the current arrangement of diverting heavy vehicles on the highway should continue for the time being.

Notices were issued to Indore Collector and Police Commissioner, apart from Melhotra Buildcon Private Limited, the construction company.

“Learned counsel submits that Melhotra Buildcon Private Limited Company is constructing the road, who can explain the delay in completion of the work. Looking to the urgency in this matter, let the company be served through the Officials of NHAI,” the High Court said, making the company a respondent in the case.