**Summary:**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 782 raised on July 24, 2025, regarding the Palakkad-Kozhikode National Greenfield Highway project. The question addressed concerns regarding delays in compensation distribution to individuals whose land was acquired for the project. Specifically, the query highlighted the impact of these delays, the number of individuals waiting for compensation for over two years, and instances where landowners have approached the courts due to these delays.
The Minister's response indicates that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the greenfield highway between Kozhikode and Palakkad has been prepared, and the project is currently in the land acquisition stage. The Award under Section 3G of the National Highways Act has been declared. Compensation will be disbursed in accordance with the National Highway Act, 1956, and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, following project approval by the Competent Authority. The response does not provide specific details on the number of affected individuals, the exact duration of the delays, or the number of court cases filed. It focuses on the current stage of the project and the legal framework governing compensation.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS: A ministry of the Indian government responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways and transport infrastructure.
SHRI V K SREEKANDAN: A member of Lok Sabha who asked the unstarred question related to the PalakkadKozhikode National Greenfield Highway project.
PalakkadKozhikode National Greenfield Highway project: A highway construction project between Palakkad and Kozhikode.
Palakkad, Kerala: A city in Kerala, India; one of the endpoints of the highway project.
Kozhikode, Kerala: A city in Kerala, India; one of the endpoints of the highway project.
SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways who answered the question regarding the highway project.
National Highway Act, 1956: An Indian law pertaining to national highways.
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013: An Indian law related to land acquisition, compensation, and rehabilitation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 782
ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2025
PALAKKAD-KOZHIKODE NATIONAL GREENFIELD HIGHWAY PROJECT
782. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the delay in distributing compensation has severely impacted
many people whose land was acquired for the Palakkad–Kozhikode National
Greenfield Highway project and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether hundreds of people have been waiting for their compensation for
over two years and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether some of the land owners who lost their homes during the
acquisition process have already approached the courts to address the
inordinate delay and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken to expedite the distribution of compensation to land
owners whose land was acquired for the said project?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) For development of greenfield Highway between Kozhikode and
Palakkad, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared. The project is
at land acquisition stage and the Award under section 3(G) of NH Act has been
declared. The compensation is in accordance with National Highway Act, 1956
and various clauses of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land
Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, as made applicable, to
be paid after approval of the project by the Competent Authority.
*****