Publication of notification under Section 3a

## Policy Analysis Report: National Highway No. 68 Land Acquisition in Gujarat **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways regarding land acquisition for National Highway No. 68 in Gujarat. The notification authorizes specific officers to act as competent authorities under the National Highways Act of 1956 for land acquisition related to building, widening, four-laning, maintenance, management, and operation of sections of NH-68. This applies to stretches between Km. 53.1 to Km. 83 and Km. 83 to Km. 123.3 of the newly proposed highway. The key finding is the formal delegation of authority to designated officers to facilitate land acquisition for the highway project. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative analysis of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification regarding land acquisition for National Highway No. 68 in the state of Gujarat, based solely on the provided text. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a new policy related to the implementation of a highway project. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective, as inferred from the text, is to facilitate the expeditious acquisition of land required for the construction, widening, maintenance, management, and operation of National Highway No. 68 in Gujarat. This involves empowering designated authorities to perform their functions under the National Highways Act, 1956. **4. Background and Rationale:** As a new policy linked to a specific infrastructure project, the rationale is to enable the execution of the NH-68 project. The construction, widening, and maintenance of highways require land acquisition. This notification addresses the problem of efficiently managing the land acquisition process by formally assigning the necessary authority to specific officers. Without this delegation, the project would face delays and legal obstacles. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by clause (a) of section 3 of the National Highways Act, 1956, authorizes officers mentioned in the Schedule to act as competent authorities. * These authorities are authorized to perform functions related to land acquisition under the National Highways Act, 1956. * The authorization applies to the stretch of land from Km. 53.1 to Km. 83 and Km. 83 to Km. 123.3 of the "Newly Proposed" NH-68 in Gujarat. * The purpose of land acquisition is for building, widening, four-laning, maintenance, management, and operation of the highway. * The Schedule lists the designated Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) along with the relevant stretch, state, district, Taluk/Mandal, and village. Specifically: * **CALA 1 (SDM):** Stretch: 53.1KM to 83KM; State: Gujarat; District: Patan; Taluk/Mandal: Patan; Village: Golapur, Sandesarpati, Rampura, Kukas * **CALA 2 (SDM):** Stretch: 83KM to 123.3KM; State: Gujarat; District: Mahesana; Taluk/Mandal: Mahesana; Village: Kukas, Heduva, Hanumat II, Kadvasan, Vadasma **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The directly affected stakeholders include: * **Landowners:** Individuals and entities owning land within the designated stretches of NH-68. * **Residents:** Individuals residing in the villages listed in the schedule. * **Local Businesses:** Businesses operating within the vicinity of the highway project. * **Executing Agencies:** Construction companies and contractors involved in the highway project. * **District Administration:** The Patan and Mahesana district administrations are directly involved in the land acquisition process. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the overall responsible body. The Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of Patan and Mahesana are designated as Competent Authorities for Land Acquisition (CALA). * **Timelines or procedures:** The notification takes effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette (June 1, 2021). The procedure for land acquisition will follow the established process under the National Highways Act, 1956. * The SDMs have the authority to perform the functions assigned to them by the Act for land acquisition. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The expected outcomes include: * **Expedited Land Acquisition:** Streamlining the land acquisition process through the designation of competent authorities. * **Smooth Project Execution:** Facilitating the timely construction, widening, maintenance, and operation of NH-68. * **Improved Connectivity:** Enhancing transportation infrastructure and connectivity in the region. * **Economic Development:** Contributing to economic growth by improving transportation efficiency and accessibility. **9. Conclusion:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification is a crucial step in facilitating the land acquisition process for the construction and improvement of National Highway No. 68 in Gujarat. By designating specific officers as competent authorities, the notification aims to streamline the process, ensure compliance with the National Highways Act, 1956, and ultimately contribute to the successful execution of the highway project. This has direct implications for landowners, residents, businesses, and the overall transportation infrastructure in the Patan and Mahesana districts of Gujarat.

Key Entities Referenced