Publication of notification under Section 3a

## Policy Analysis Report: National Highway 135B - Land Acquisition Notification **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, published on December 24, 2021. This notification concerns land acquisition for the building, maintenance, management, and operation of National Highway No. 135B, specifically the Jamira to Kalwari section in Uttar Pradesh. It designates competent authorities to oversee land acquisition under the National Highways Act of 1956. Key findings indicate the geographical scope of the project within Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh and names key villages impacted. The policy empowers designated officers to proceed with land acquisition for the stated infrastructure development. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an analysis of the Government of India's notification concerning land acquisition for National Highway No. 135B (Jamira to Kalwari section) in Uttar Pradesh. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification. The purpose of this report is to inform affected parties and stakeholders about the authorization and scope of land acquisition activities, as defined by the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** This notification supersedes notification No. S.O. 953(E) dated March 1, 2018. * **Core Objective(s) as inferred from the text:** * To authorize designated officials to act as competent authorities for land acquisition related to the NH-135B project. * To facilitate the construction, maintenance, management, and operation of National Highway No. 135B between Jamira and Kalwari. **4. Background and Rationale:** This notification amends a previous notification (S.O. 953(E) dated March 1, 2018). The likely reason for this amendment is to designate new or revised competent authorities or to update the scope of the land acquisition for the NH-135B project. Given that the overall project objective remains the same (development of NH-135B), the amendment likely addresses administrative or logistical changes necessary for the project's continued progress. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification focuses on specific changes related to the authorization of competent authorities for land acquisition. * **Specific Part of Original Policy Being Changed:** The notification explicitly states "In supersession of notification No. S.O. 953(E) dated March 1, 2018". This indicates a direct replacement of the prior notification, presumably regarding the authorization of specific officers. * **New Rule/Provision:** The Central Government authorizes officers (mentioned in column 2 of the Schedule) as competent authorities to perform functions under the National Highways Act, 1956. This authorization is effective from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette. The Schedule specifies the stretch of land (column 3), district (column 4), taluk/mandal (column 5), police station (column 6) and villages (column 7) related to the land acquisition. * **Difference/Effect of Change:** By superseding the previous notification, this new notification likely appoints new or different officers as the competent authorities. The effect is to legally empower these newly designated officers to carry out land acquisition activities under the National Highways Act for the NH-135B project. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the directly affected stakeholders include: * **Landowners:** Individuals and entities owning land within the specified stretch of NH-135B (Jamira to Kalwari) in Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the listed villages (Kalchiha, Bargarh, Usari Mafi, Chharehra, Jamira, Koniya, Kolmajara, Gahur, Raipura, Dubi, and Lapaon). * **Residents of the Affected Villages:** Communities residing within the listed villages will experience potential disruptions and impacts related to land acquisition and highway construction. * **Designated Competent Authorities:** The officers appointed by this notification are directly responsible for executing the land acquisition process. * **National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):** As indicated by "NHAIPIUCHHPFee RouteJamiraKalwari3a2017," NHAI has interest in this project. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the issuing authority. The designated officers listed in the schedule, acting as competent authorities, are responsible for implementing the land acquisition process. NHAI is also likely involved. * **Timelines or Procedures:** The notification takes effect upon publication in the Official Gazette (dated December 24, 2021). The procedures for land acquisition are governed by the National Highways Act, 1956. * **Amendment-Specific Implementation:** The implementation of this amendment requires the newly appointed competent authorities to familiarize themselves with the project details and initiate or continue land acquisition processes based on the existing legal framework. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this notification and the authorization of new officers is to expedite the land acquisition process for the NH-135B project. This, in turn, should facilitate the timely completion of the highway construction, maintenance, management, and operation. The amendment likely seeks to overcome any administrative bottlenecks or personnel changes that may have hindered progress under the previous notification. The successful land aquisition should reduce transit times and improve connectivity in the region and support economic development **9. Conclusion:** The notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is crucial for progressing the NH-135B (Jamira to Kalwari) project. By designating competent authorities for land acquisition, it empowers the government to proceed with necessary infrastructure development. This report highlights the key provisions, stakeholders, and expected outcomes based on the provided text. The success of this policy hinges on the effective and lawful execution of land acquisition processes by the newly appointed competent authorities, minimizing disruption to affected communities while adhering to the National Highways Act of 1956.

Key Entities Referenced