Publication of corrigendum under Section 3a

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to National Highways Act, 1956 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a specific amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, as published in the Gazette of India on May 30, 2025. The amendment, identified as S.O. 2427(E), modifies Notification S.O. 2961(E) dated August 19, 2019, concerning land acquisition processes. The core purpose of this amendment is to correct the designated titles of the Special District Revenue Officers involved in land acquisition for National Highways in Madurai and Dindigul districts. The key finding is that this amendment aims to improve the accuracy and clarity of official designations, likely streamlining administrative procedures related to land acquisition. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an analysis of an amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, as detailed in the provided government publication. The analysis is based solely on the information contained within the given text, focusing on the nature and implications of the amendment itself. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy:** The amendment pertains to Notification S.O. 2961(E) dated August 19, 2019, which was published under the National Highways Act, 1956. * **Core Objective(s):** Based on the amendment text, the core objective of the *original* policy (S.O. 2961(E)) appears to relate to land acquisition for National Highways. The amendment's objective is to correct/clarify the designation of officials involved in this process. **4. Background and Rationale:** Since this document represents an *amendment*, the focus is on the rationale behind the specific changes. The amendment appears to be a *corrigendum*, suggesting that there was an error in the original notification S.O. 2961(E) regarding the designation of the "Special District Revenue Officer" responsible for land acquisition in Madurai and Dindigul. The original notification incorrectly abbreviated the titles, potentially causing confusion or administrative hurdles. The amendment rectifies this by substituting the abbreviated titles with the complete, correct designations. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This section focuses specifically on the *changes* introduced by the amendment: * **Part of Original Policy Being Changed:** The amendment modifies the "Schedule" of the original notification S.O. 2961(E). Specifically, it targets Column No. 2 at Sl. No. 1 and 2, which pertains to the titles of the responsible officers. * **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment substitutes the following abbreviated title with more appropriate designations: * *Original (Sl. No. 1):* "Special District Revenue Officer LANH Madurai, NH785, NH785E and NH85 new" * *New (Sl. No. 1):* "Special District Revenue Officer, Land Acquisition, National Highways, Madurai" * *Original (Sl. No. 2):* "Special District Revenue Officer LANH Madurai, NH785, NH785E and NH85 new" * *New (Sl. No. 2):* "Special District Revenue Officer, Land Acquisition, National Highways, Dindigul" * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The change clarifies the official designation of the officers responsible for land acquisition. It ensures that the titles accurately reflect their roles in "Land Acquisition, National Highways" and correctly associates the officers with Madurai and Dindigul, respectively. The change also clearly identifies separate revenue officer for Madurai and Dindigul. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the primary stakeholders affected by these changes are: * **Landowners in Madurai and Dindigul districts:** Affected by land acquisition for National Highway projects. * **The Special District Revenue Officers in Madurai and Dindigul:** Whose official designations have been corrected. * **The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:** Responsible for implementing the National Highways Act and related policies. * **National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):** Responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways, and is referenced in the F. No. NHAI2019LA3aNotiPIUMadurai which suggests they are involved in the implementation. * **Other government agencies and departments:** Involved in the land acquisition process. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the responsible body, as indicated by the notification's origin. The Special District Revenue Officers in Madurai and Dindigul are also responsible for implementing the changes. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The text does not specify exact timelines or procedures beyond the immediate correction of the titles in official documentation. The implementation will likely involve updating records and ensuring that all future communications use the correct designations. * **Specific Implementation related to changes**: The responsible agency needs to make sure that all further official communication and documents pertaining to land acquisition in Madurai and Dindigul use the updated designations for the Special District Revenue Officers. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these changes is to: * **Reduce administrative errors:** By ensuring that the correct official designations are used, which would minimize confusion and delays in the land acquisition process. * **Improve clarity and transparency:** Providing clear and accurate information to all stakeholders involved in land acquisition. * **Streamline land acquisition processes:** Ultimately contributing to the efficient development and maintenance of National Highways. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, detailed in this report, focuses on rectifying errors in the official designations of Special District Revenue Officers involved in land acquisition for National Highways in Madurai and Dindigul. While seemingly minor, this correction is significant as it promotes accuracy, clarity, and efficiency in the administrative processes related to land acquisition. By ensuring that the correct titles are used, the amendment contributes to smoother implementation of highway development projects.

Key Entities Referenced