Publication of corrigendum under Section 3a NHAI

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to National Highways Act, 1956 Notifications **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to notifications under the National Highways Act, 1956. The amendment, detailed in notification S.O. 3606(E) dated August 1, 2022, concerns a change in the designated authority responsible for land acquisition matters related to national highways in specific districts of Haryana. The core purpose of this amendment is to substitute the "Land Acquisition Officer, Urban Estate, Faridabad, Haryana" with "District Revenue Officer, Faridabad for district Faridabad and District Revenue Officer, Palwal for district Palwal" within the preamble of previous notifications (S.O. 2079 E dated 10.08.2009 and S.O. 2971 E dated 23.11.2009). This report outlines the rationale, key changes, affected stakeholders, and potential impact of this amendment based solely on the provided text. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the amendment to notifications under the National Highways Act, 1956, specifically focusing on S.O. 3606(E) dated August 1, 2022, based on the provided policy text. It analyzes the amendment's purpose, changes, and potential impact. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment to:** Notifications S.O. 2079 E dated 10.08.2009 and S.O. 2971 E dated 23.11.2009 under the National Highways Act, 1956. * **Core Objective(s):** The amendment aims to change the designated authority responsible for land acquisition matters in specific districts. While the text does not explicitly state the objective, it can be inferred that the intent is to streamline or improve the efficiency of the land acquisition process, possibly by assigning responsibility to a more appropriate local authority. **4. Background and Rationale:** The provided text suggests that the amendment is prompted by a change in the designated Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) pursuant to Haryana Government order no. Endst. No. 5954E22017161 dt.09.01.2018. The Land Acquisition Officer, Urban Estate, Faridabad, Haryana conveyed this change through letter No. 32723276 dt.03.06.2022. The rationale behind this change is not explicitly stated but it could be due to administrative restructuring, jurisdictional realignment, or a reassessment of the appropriate authority for land acquisition concerning National Highways in Faridabad and Palwal districts. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This is an amendment, so the focus is on the specific changes: * **Part of Original Policy Being Changed:** The preamble of notifications S.O. 2079 E dated 10.08.2009 and S.O. 2971 E dated 23.11.2009 is being amended. * **New Rule/Provision:** The words and figures "Land Acquisition Officer, Urban Estate, Faridabad, Haryana" are substituted with "District Revenue Officer, Faridabad for district Faridabad and District Revenue Officer, Palwal for district Palwal." * **Difference/Effect of Change:** This amendment transfers the responsibility for land acquisition matters related to national highways from the Land Acquisition Officer, Urban Estate, Faridabad, Haryana to the District Revenue Officers of Faridabad and Palwal, each responsible for their respective districts. This likely decentralizes the land acquisition process and places responsibility with officers having greater local knowledge and authority within their specific districts. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the directly affected stakeholders include: * **Landowners in Faridabad and Palwal districts:** As the authority responsible for land acquisition changes, they will interact with different officials and potentially experience changes in the process. * **District Revenue Officers of Faridabad and Palwal:** They assume new responsibilities for land acquisition related to National Highways. * **Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:** Which ultimately oversees this process. * **Highway Developers:** This change may affect the timelines and procedures for acquiring land for highway projects in the region. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is responsible for enacting the amendment. The District Revenue Officers of Faridabad and Palwal are now responsible for implementing the land acquisition process in their respective districts. * **Timelines or procedures:** The text does not specify explicit timelines or procedures related to the *implementation of the amendment itself*. However, the change suggests an adjustment to existing land acquisition procedures to involve the District Revenue Officers. * **Related specifically to changes:** The District Revenue Officers will need to be integrated into the existing land acquisition framework, potentially requiring updated communication channels, documentation processes, and reporting mechanisms. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this change is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of land acquisition for national highway projects in Faridabad and Palwal districts. Potential positive impacts include: * **Streamlined Process:** Local District Revenue Officers may have better knowledge of local land records and regulations, potentially speeding up the process. * **Improved Communication:** Direct communication with District Revenue Officers could improve communication between the government and affected landowners. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to notifications under the National Highways Act, 1956, specifically S.O. 3606(E), represents a change in the designated authority for land acquisition in Faridabad and Palwal districts. By assigning responsibility to the District Revenue Officers, the amendment likely aims to decentralize and streamline the land acquisition process. This change has significant implications for landowners, local authorities, and highway development projects in the affected districts. Further information on the specific procedures and responsibilities of the District Revenue Officers would be beneficial for all stakeholders.

Key Entities Referenced