In exercise of powers conferred by clause a of section 3 of the National Highways Act,

## Policy Analysis Report: Land Acquisition for Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (Jammu & Kashmir) **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways regarding land acquisition for a section of the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar-Katra Expressway in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The notification authorizes specific officers to act as competent authorities for land acquisition related to the expressway's construction, widening, and maintenance between Km 554 and Km 567. The key finding is the delegation of authority for land acquisition, enabling the project's progression in the specified area. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide an informative overview of the notification S.O. 2211(E), published in the Gazette of India on June 9, 2021, concerning land acquisition for the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar-Katra Expressway in Jammu and Kashmir. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a *new* policy as it establishes a new action under the National Highways Act. * **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective, as inferred from the text, is to facilitate the acquisition of land necessary for the building, widening, four-laning, maintenance, management, and operation of a section of the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar-Katra Expressway in the U.T. of Jammu and Kashmir. **4. Background and Rationale:** As a new policy, this likely addresses the need for streamlined land acquisition processes to expedite the construction of the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar-Katra Expressway. The absence of designated competent authorities would impede the project's progress. The notification addresses this by officially assigning those authorities, removing an obstacle to land acquisition and further development of the expressway. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** As this is not an amendment, the key provisions are: * The Central Government, exercising its powers under clause (a) of section 3 of the National Highways Act, 1956, authorizes specific officers to act as "competent authorities" for land acquisition. * This authorization is effective from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette (June 9, 2021). * The authorization pertains to the stretch of land from Km 554 to Km 567 of the newly proposed Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar-Katra Expressway in the U.T. of Jammu and Kashmir. * The specified officers are designated for land acquisition related to building, widening, four-laning, etc., maintenance, management, and operation of the expressway. * The Schedule lists the Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, for land falling within the Dansal area in Jammu District. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the target audience and stakeholders directly affected include: * **Landowners:** Individuals and entities owning land within the specified stretch (Km 554-567) of the expressway in Jammu & Kashmir, particularly in the Jammu District's Dansal area. They are directly affected by the land acquisition process. * **National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):** While not explicitly mentioned, NHAI is the implied beneficiary. * **Construction Companies:** Companies involved in building, widening, and maintaining the expressway. Timely land acquisition is crucial for their operations. * **Local Residents and Businesses:** Potentially affected by construction activity and eventual operation of the expressway, this could be positively or negatively. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is responsible for issuing the notification. The Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, is responsible for executing land acquisition. * **Timelines or procedures:** The notification provides an effective date (June 9, 2021). The specific procedures for land acquisition are not detailed in this text but are governed by the National Highways Act, 1956. * The reference number *NHAIPIURamban20192111006* may be an internal tracking number, but it may also reference a relevant project number. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** Since this is a new policy, the likely intended outcomes are: * **Accelerated Land Acquisition:** Streamlining the land acquisition process by designating competent authorities. * **Expedited Expressway Construction:** Facilitating the timely construction, widening, and maintenance of the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar-Katra Expressway. * **Improved Connectivity:** Contributing to better connectivity between Delhi and Katra, benefiting trade, tourism, and transportation. **9. Conclusion:** The notification analyzed authorizes specific officers to oversee land acquisition for a segment of the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar-Katra Expressway in Jammu and Kashmir. This is a crucial step for advancing the expressway project, potentially leading to improved transportation infrastructure and connectivity in the region. The notification demonstrates the government's commitment to infrastructure development and its efforts to overcome obstacles such as land acquisition delays.

Key Entities Referenced