Publication of notification under Section 3a MoRTH

## Policy Analysis Report: National Highway 134 (Old NH-94) Land Acquisition in Uttarakhand **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, regarding land acquisition for the building, widening, tunnel construction, maintenance, management, and operation of the Dharasu Yamunotri section of National Highway 134 (Old NH-94) in Uttarakhand. The core purpose is to authorize specific officers to act as competent authorities for land acquisition within designated areas. The key finding is the delegation of power for land acquisition to facilitate infrastructure development along the specified highway section. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of Notification S.O. 3861(E) from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, dated August 17, 2022, regarding land acquisition for National Highway 134 (Old NH-94) in Uttarakhand. The analysis focuses solely on the information provided within the notification text. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a new policy implementation, specifically relating to the *implementation* of the National Highways Act, 1956. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective is to authorize competent authorities for land acquisition to enable the building, widening, tunnel construction, maintenance, management, and operation of a specific section of National Highway 134 (Old NH-94) in Uttarakhand. **4. Background and Rationale:** This is a new policy implementation. The policy likely addresses the need to acquire land to improve and maintain National Highway 134 (Old NH-94), which might be facing issues related to capacity, safety, or infrastructure degradation. This acquisition is intended to enable improvements such as widening and tunnel construction to enhance the highway's functionality. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * The notification authorizes specific officers (mentioned in column 2 of the Schedule) to act as competent authorities under the National Highways Act, 1956. * This authorization is effective from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette. * The authorization applies to a specific stretch of land (detailed in column 3 of the Schedule), relating to districts, taluks/mandals, and villages mentioned in columns 4, 5, 6, and 7 respectively. * The land acquisition is for the purpose of building, widening, tunnel construction, maintenance, management, and operation of the Dharasu Yamunotri section of National Highway 134 (Old NH-94) from Km. 77.025 to Km. 79.30 in Uttarakhand. * The Schedule details the specific location of the land to be acquired by referencing the names of the villages: Kuthar, Bajari, Kunshala and Trikhali. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the provided text, the directly affected stakeholders include: * **Landowners:** Individuals or entities owning land within the specified stretch (Km. 77.025 to Km. 79.30) of National Highway 134 (Old NH-94) in the villages of Kuthar, Bajari, Kunshala and Trikhali, Uttarakhand. * **Residents:** Inhabitants of the villages of Kuthar, Bajari, Kunshala and Trikhali in Uttarakhand. * **Contractors/Construction Companies:** Businesses involved in the building, widening, and maintenance of the highway. * **Uttarakhand State Government:** Due to the location of the project within the state. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the primary responsible agency. The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Uttarkashi is designated as the competent authority for land acquisition in the affected villages. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The notification takes effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette. The specific procedures for land acquisition would be governed by the National Highways Act, 1956, though the notification itself does not detail these procedures. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes include: * Facilitating the acquisition of land necessary for the improvement and maintenance of National Highway 134 (Old NH-94). * Enabling infrastructure development, such as widening and tunnel construction, to improve the highway's capacity and safety. * Potentially improved transportation and connectivity in the region. **9. Conclusion:** Notification S.O. 3861(E) authorizes specific officers to act as competent authorities for land acquisition, paving the way for the building, widening, tunnel construction, maintenance, management, and operation of the Dharasu Yamunotri section of National Highway 134 (Old NH-94) in Uttarakhand. This notification is a crucial step in facilitating infrastructure development aimed at improving transportation in the region.

Key Entities Referenced