Publication of corrigendum under Section 3a MoRTH

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to National Highways Act, 1956 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, specifically concerning land acquisition procedures in the Krishnagiri district. The amendment, detailed in notification S.O. 5196(E), dated November 7, 2022, changes the designation of the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition from "District Revenue Officer, Krishnagiri" to "Special District Revenue Officer LA, NHAI, Krishnagiri." This change likely aims to streamline land acquisition processes for National Highway projects in the specified district by assigning a specialized officer from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to oversee the process. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of a notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, amending a previous notification related to the National Highways Act, 1956. The analysis is based solely on the text of notification S.O. 5196(E), published in the Gazette of India on November 7, 2022. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy Amended:** This notification amends the government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, S.O. 2799(E) dated 18.08.2020, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Subsection II, 18.08.2020. * **Core Objective(s) (Inferred):** The core objective of the original policy (S.O. 2799(E)) is not explicitly stated in the amendment text. However, based on the context, it likely pertains to land acquisition for national highway projects. The objective of *this specific amendment* is to refine the administrative process of land acquisition. **4. Background and Rationale:** The amendment likely arises from a need to expedite land acquisition processes specifically within the Krishnagiri district for National Highway projects. The change in designation of the competent authority suggests a desire for more specialized expertise and potentially a more focused approach to land acquisition matters. By assigning an officer from NHAI, the government may be aiming to improve coordination, reduce delays, and ensure smoother implementation of highway projects. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This amendment focuses specifically on changing the designated authority responsible for land acquisition: * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** The amendment modifies the "schedule to the said notification [S.O. 2799(E)], against serial no. 1 in column 2." * **New Rule/Provision:** The entry "District Revenue Officer, Krishnagiri" is *substituted* with "Special District Revenue Officer LA, NHAI, Krishnagiri." * **Difference/Effect of Change:** This change transfers the responsibility of land acquisition from the general District Revenue Officer to a Special District Revenue Officer specifically affiliated with NHAI. This centralizes the land acquisition process under an authority directly linked to the national highway development, potentially leading to faster and more efficient decision-making related to land acquisition. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary stakeholders directly affected by this change are: * **Landowners in Krishnagiri district:** The change impacts the authority they will be interacting with during the land acquisition process. * **NHAI (National Highways Authority of India):** NHAI assumes direct responsibility for land acquisition in the designated area. * **Contractors and Developers involved in National Highway projects in Krishnagiri:** Timely land acquisition is crucial for project completion. This change is intended to improve project timelines. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the issuing authority. The NHAI will be directly involved in implementation through the newly designated "Special District Revenue Officer LA, NHAI, Krishnagiri." * **Timelines or Procedures:** No specific timelines or procedures are detailed in the amendment text. However, the change implies a shift in the administrative workflow, with NHAI taking a more direct role in land acquisition activities. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this change is a more efficient and streamlined land acquisition process for National Highway projects in the Krishnagiri district. This could lead to: * **Faster project completion:** Reduced delays in land acquisition can accelerate the completion of highway projects. * **Improved coordination:** Having an NHAI officer directly responsible for land acquisition should improve communication and coordination between NHAI and the local administration. * **More consistent application of land acquisition policies:** A specialized officer may bring more focused expertise and consistency to the land acquisition process. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, as detailed in notification S.O. 5196(E), represents a targeted effort to improve land acquisition processes for National Highway projects in the Krishnagiri district. By replacing the District Revenue Officer with a Special District Revenue Officer from NHAI, the government aims to streamline operations, expedite project timelines, and ensure more effective coordination between relevant stakeholders. This change underscores the importance of efficient land acquisition for infrastructure development and highlights the government's commitment to optimizing administrative processes in this area.

Key Entities Referenced