Road ministry lays out SOPs for removal of stray cattle from NHs and Expressways

The ministry of road transport and highways has laid out a coordinated mechanism for the prevention of stray-animal incursions and their safe removal from National Highways and Expressways, a move aimed at preventing accidents and fatalities on national highways due to stray animals.

“The recurring presence of stray cattle and other animals on National Highway (NH) carriageways poses a serious and continuing threat to road safety,” it said in a notification.

The standard operating procedures laid out by the ministry comes after the Supreme Court directive to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in 2025 to devise a structured mechanism for the safe removal and coordination of stray animals on NHs and Expressways.


As per the notification, while the management of stray or abandoned animals is constitutionally a state subject, the management of national highways is the responsibility of the central government and NHAI.

“This SOP bridges that constitutional divide by delineating a clear, nonoverlapping division of responsibilities between NH agencies and state or local authorities,” it said.

According to the SOPs, the national highway agencies will be responsible for removal of stray cattle and other animals from NHs, and their transportation to a shelter or pound or gaushala, designated by the state government for the purpose as applicable while the state, district or local administration will be responsible for identification, establishment and maintenance of shelter or pound.

The notification said the national highway or central agencies will have to identify locations on NHs/Expressways where stray cattle or animals frequented and mark such locations on the PM Gati Shakti platform and arrange for their transport to designated shelters.

Besides, the state administration will be responsible for maintaining cattle-pound records and initiate owner-tracing and action for recovery of applicable fees, fines and penalties under the relevant cattle-trespass legislation.

The national highway agencies will undertake round-the-clock surveillance through route patrol vehicles (RPVs) in designated stretches, and through the advanced traffic management system (ATMS), wherever available, it added.