Bhubaneswar: Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan has written to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, seeking urgent intervention to curb the growing menace of illegal parking of commercial and heavy vehicles along highways in the state’s mining and industrial belts, which he said is contributing to a rise in fatal road accidents.In a letter to the chief minister, Pradhan alleged that trucks ferrying minerals and industrial goods are often lined up for kilometres on national and state highways. He said the problem stems from the absence of an organised logistics system and inadequate parking facilities by mining and industrial companies operating in the state.Pradhan argued that the state govt possesses both constitutional and statutory powers to tackle the issue. Referring to a reportable order passed by Supreme Court on April 13, 2026, in a suo motu road safety matter, he said the apex court had held that safe travel on highways forms an integral part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.Pradhan further cited provisions of the Odisha State Highways Authority Act, 2025, saying the law allows authorities to take stringent action against violators. He noted that Section 28 provides for penalties ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 for dangerous operation of vehicles on roads and permits the auction of confiscated vehicles if fines remain unpaid.Pradhan also highlighted Section 76 of the Act, which allows criminal liability to be fixed on company directors and officials where offences arise from corporate negligence or transport mismanagement.Seeking immediate corrective measures, Pradhan urged the state govt to direct all departments concerned to issue public awareness notices and strictly enforce vehicle seizure provisions against violators. He also called for corporate accountability to be enforced against mining and industrial firms whose transport operations lead to highway congestion and unsafe parking.Among other recommendations, he proposed making district road safety task forces fully functional for periodic reviews and requiring mining operators to establish off-highway holding yards equipped with basic amenities for trucks.“Human life is far more valuable than any industrial or administrative inconvenience,” Pradhan said.