Publication of corrigendum under Section 3a NHAI

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to National Highways Act, 1956 Regarding Greenfield Highway in Maharashtra **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to the National Highways Act, 1956, specifically concerning a Greenfield Highway project in Maharashtra. The amendment, detailed in notification S.O. 3957E, published on August 23, 2022, addresses inaccuracies in a previous notification (S.O. 3168E dated July 11, 2022) related to village names, a Taluka name and the designated Competent Authority of Land Acquisition (CALA). The amendment corrects errors related to place names in Ahmednagar and Beed districts and clarifies the designated CALA. The report finds that the amendment aims to rectify inconsistencies that arose during the land acquisition planning process, ensuring accurate implementation of the highway project. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an analysis of the amendment notification S.O. 3957E to the National Highways Act, 1956, concerning the Greenfield Highway project in Maharashtra. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy:** The amendment refers to and modifies the original notification S.O. 3168E, dated July 11, 2022, which pertains to the Greenfield Highway project in Maharashtra, originating in Ahmednagar, connecting Beed, Osmanabad and Solapur and terminating at Akkalkot-Karnataka border. * **Core Objective(s):** Based on the provided text, the core objective of the original policy is to facilitate the construction of a Greenfield Highway connecting specified districts in Maharashtra. **4. Background and Rationale:** This is an amendment, not a new policy. The rationale for this specific amendment is to correct errors that were "inadvertently published" in the original notification S.O. 3168 E. Specifically, the text states that during the preparation of the land acquisition plan, errors were identified in the names of the CALA, seven villages, and one taluka. This amendment seeks to rectify these errors, ensuring the accuracy of the land acquisition process. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This section details the specific changes introduced by the amendment: * **Change 1:** In the schedule, in front of District Ahmednagar, Taluka Ahmednagar, Column 7, the amendment substitutes "Madadgaon" for "Madadgaon," "Bhatodi Pargaon" for "Bhatodi Pargaon," and "Chichondi Patil" for "Chichondi Patil". * *Explanation:* Corrects the spelling/formatting of the villages. * **Change 2:** In the schedule, in front of District Ahmednagar, Taluka Jamkhed, Column 7, the amendment substitutes "Dislewadi" for "Disalewadi" and "Potewadi" for "Potewadi". * *Explanation:* Corrects the spelling/formatting of the villages. * **Change 3:** In the schedule, in front of District Beed, Taluka Ashti, Column 7, the amendment substitutes "Dhirdi" for "Dhirdi" and "Imangaon" for "Imangaon". * *Explanation:* Corrects the spelling/formatting of the villages. * **Change 4:** In the schedule, in front of the District Beed, Column No.6, the amendment substitutes "Ashti" for "Ashti". * *Explanation:* Corrects the spelling/formatting of the Taluka. * **Change 5:** In said notification Serial No 3 Column No.2 the amendment substitutes "Competent Authority and SubDivisional officer, Patoda" for "Competent Authority of Land Acquisition SubDivisional officer, Patoda". * *Explanation:* Corrects the designation of the Competent Authority of Land Acquisition. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the target audience and stakeholders directly affected by these changes include: * Landowners in the Ahmednagar and Beed districts, particularly in the villages and talukas mentioned. * The Competent Authority of Land Acquisition (CALA) in Patoda. * Individuals and entities involved in the Greenfield Highway project, including construction companies, infrastructure developers, and relevant government departments. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the responsible agency. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Ahmedabad appears to be involved. The Competent Authority of Land Acquisition (CALA) is also directly involved. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment is effective from the date of publication (August 23, 2022). The affected parties are expected to implement the changes immediately. * **Specific to changes:** The CALA needs to update its records and procedures to reflect the new designations. Land acquisition documents must be revised to reflect the corrected names of the villages and taluka. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of these specific changes is to ensure accuracy and avoid confusion during the land acquisition process. By correcting the errors in the original notification, the amendment aims to: * Facilitate smoother land acquisition by using correct and verified location data. * Reduce potential disputes arising from incorrect village/taluka names. * Enable clear accountability by correctly designating the relevant authority. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment S.O. 3957E to the National Highways Act, 1956, represents a corrective measure to rectify errors in the original notification concerning the Greenfield Highway project in Maharashtra. While seemingly minor, these corrections are crucial for ensuring the accurate and efficient implementation of the land acquisition process. The amendment highlights the importance of attention to detail in policy implementation.

Key Entities Referenced