Asking the public works department to start work in this regard, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said it was imperative for NHAI and PWD to maintain rigorous safety standards on the highways.
"We should ensure that there is no direct entry to the highways," an official release quoting him said.
Expressing concern over mushrooming of high-rises along the national highways, Badal asked the department to ensure that there is enough margin between the buildings and the road as per permissible norms.
Sukhbir said the state government has chalked out a Rs 13,000 crore-plan to link all major cities of the state through four and six lane routes.
He directed the PWD to ensure that there is no violation of norms while awarding contracts to firms, and also asked it to enforce strict quality control measures.