Publication of notification under Section 3a MORTH

## Policy Analysis Report: Land Acquisition for National Highway No. NH1 (Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri) **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, regarding land acquisition for the strengthening and improvement of the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri section of National Highway No. NH1 in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir. The notification authorizes specific officers as competent authorities to perform functions related to land acquisition under the National Highways Act of 1956. The key finding is the delegation of authority for land acquisition to facilitate the project's execution between Design Km. 14.200 to Km. 101.000. This will impact landowners and residents within the specified stretch. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notification concerning land acquisition for the improvement of National Highway No. NH1 in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. This analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a *new policy* concerning the authorization of officers to perform functions for land acquisition, falling under the purview of the National Highways Act, 1956. The core objective, as inferred from the text, is to facilitate the acquisition of land required for the "Strenghthing and Improvement to 2Lane/2Lane with Paved Shoulder/4Lane devided carriage way from Design Km.14200 to Km. 101000 SrinagarBaramullaUri NH1 Road." **4. Background and Rationale:** As a new policy focused on land acquisition, the likely problem this notification addresses is the need for efficient and authorized land acquisition procedures to enable the planned improvements to the NH1 highway. The upgrades likely aim to improve connectivity, reduce travel time, and boost economic activity in the region. The notification sets the stage for the practical and legal process of obtaining the land required for this infrastructure development. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This policy notification establishes the following key provisions: * **Authorization of Competent Authorities:** The central government authorizes officers, mentioned in column 2 of the schedule, to act as competent authorities under the National Highways Act, 1956. * **Scope of Authority:** These authorized officers are empowered to perform their functions with respect to the stretch of land specified in the corresponding entry in column 3 of the schedule. This concerns land needed for the highway upgrade project between Km 14.200 and Km 101.000. * **Geographic Location:** The land acquisition is to take place in the State/UT, districts, taluk/mandal, and villages mentioned in columns 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively of the schedule. The notification specifically mentions Baramulla district, Boniyar taluk, and villages like Kanth Bagh, Girda Nawah, and Nowshera. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The direct target audience and stakeholders affected by this notification include: * **Landowners:** Individuals and entities owning land within the specified stretch of NH1 targeted for acquisition. * **Residents:** Individuals residing within the villages and areas affected by the land acquisition. * **District Administration of Baramulla:** The district administration is involved through the Deputy Commissioner who is listed in the schedule. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the primary responsible body. The "Competent Authorities" listed in the schedule, in this case the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, are responsible for carrying out the land acquisition process. Project Beacon of 760 BRTF is also mentioned, indicating their involvement in the project execution. * **Timelines or procedures:** The notification states that the authorization is effective from the date of publication in the Official Gazette (July 28, 2022). The specific procedures for land acquisition will be governed by the National Highways Act, 1956. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The expected outcome of this notification is to expedite the land acquisition process, which is a crucial step towards the strengthening and improvement of the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri section of NH1. This will ultimately facilitate the completion of the highway upgrade project. The direct impact on stakeholders will be related to the acquisition of their land, which should be carried out according to the legal framework. **9. Conclusion:** This notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is a key step towards facilitating the upgrade of National Highway No. NH1 in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. By authorizing competent authorities for land acquisition, the government aims to streamline the project's progress. It is essential that the land acquisition process is conducted fairly and transparently, with due consideration for the rights and interests of the affected landowners and residents.

Key Entities Referenced