In exercise of the powers conferred by sub section 1 of section 3D of the National Highways Act

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to National Highways Act, 1956 Regarding NH503D **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, specifically concerning National Highway NH503D. The amendment, published in the Gazette of India on June 16, 2021, modifies the description of the stretch of land affected by the highway project, changing the description of the location to be “Beas Batala Dera Baba Nanak” instead of the previous description including "Court Road Rialoto Chowk, opp. Rialoto Cinema, Mohindra Colony, Amritsar, Punjab". The key finding is a clarification of the highway's route and the geographical area impacted by the acquisition of land for the widening and maintenance of NH503D. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative analysis of a specific amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, as it pertains to NH503D. This analysis is based solely on the information provided in the official government notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment to:** National Highways Act, 1956. The original policy notification being amended is referenced as bearing no. 1754 E, published in the official gazette on 05.05.2021. * **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the objective of the underlying policy (and this amendment) is to facilitate the "wideningfourlaning, etc., maintenance, management and operation of NH503D" and to accurately define the land to be acquired for this purpose. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment appears to be prompted by the need to correct or clarify the route description for NH503D. The original notification's description included specific local landmarks within Amritsar, while the amendment provides a broader geographical description ("Beas Batala Dera Baba Nanak"). The amendment suggests that the initial description might have been inaccurate, incomplete, or required updating to reflect the actual intended route and area of land acquisition. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This is an amendment. The key change is as follows: * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** The description of the stretch of land for the widening, maintenance, management and operation of NH503D, as well as the description of the land to be acquired. * **New Rule/Provision:** The description of the land is changed from "Km 0 to Km 22 Court Road Rialoto Chowk, opp. Rialoto Cinema, Mohindra Colony, Amritsar, Punjab" to "Km 0 to Km 22 Beas Batala Dera Baba Nanak". * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The change provides a more general description of the area, possibly reflecting a broader scope of the project than initially indicated or correcting an error in the initial description. This change likely aims to ensure accurate land acquisition and project implementation in the correct geographical area. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment are: * Landowners within the "Beas Batala Dera Baba Nanak" area along NH503D's Km 0 to Km 22 stretch. * Residents and businesses within the "Beas Batala Dera Baba Nanak" area. * The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and its project implementation units (specifically NHAIPIUASRBeasBabaBakalaDBNLA3A3D). * Contractors involved in the widening, maintenance, and management of NH503D. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The NHAI (specifically NHAIPIUASRBeasBabaBakalaDBNLA3A3D) is the primary responsible agency. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways oversees the process. * **Timelines or procedures:** The notification references the initial publication on 05.05.2021 and 12.05.2021, suggesting an ongoing process related to land acquisition and project implementation. No specific timelines are included in this amendment. The amendment implies a procedure involving a CALA report that informs the Central Government's decision to make the amendment. * **Implementation Aspects Related Specifically to the Changes:** The NHAI needs to use the updated description for all future land acquisition and project-related activities. Existing land acquisition processes need to be reviewed in the light of the change. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this amendment is to ensure that land acquisition and construction activities for NH503D are accurately targeted to the correct geographical area. The amendment will likely reduce confusion related to the project's scope and potentially expedite land acquisition by aligning descriptions with the actual project footprint. The geographical change may alter the scope of affected populations, which will create new opportunities and potential complaints from the new area. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, concerning NH503D, represents a clarification of the project's geographical scope, replacing specific local landmarks with the broader designation "Beas Batala Dera Baba Nanak." This change likely aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of land acquisition and project implementation, ensuring that the widening and maintenance of NH503D proceeds in the intended area. The changes will have significant impact on those living within the "Beas Batala Dera Baba Nanak" area and businesses dependent upon that population.

Key Entities Referenced