Publication of notification under Section 3A on NH161A in the district of NANDED in the state of MAHARASHTRA

## Policy Analysis Report: Land Acquisition for National Highway 161A (Amendment) **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, published on April 12, 2021. This notification pertains to the declared intention to acquire land for the building, widening, maintenance, management, and operation of National Highway 161A in Maharashtra. This appears to be a partial amendment pertaining to a previously undefined policy. The core purpose is to facilitate the expansion and improvement of NH161A. Key findings indicate that specific plots of land in the Nanded district are targeted for acquisition, and affected parties have a limited time frame to raise objections. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview of the notification S.O. 1560(E) issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, regarding the acquisition of land for National Highway 161A (NH161A). The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification and aims to inform stakeholders about the declared intention to acquire land and the associated procedures. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification appears to be an amendment to an existing policy concerning national highways, specifically referencing the National Highways Act, 1956. The original policy's full scope is not available within the provided document, but it relates to land acquisition for national highway development. * **Core Objective(s) (inferred):** The core objective, based on the provided text, is to facilitate the building, widening, maintenance, management, and operation of NH161A. This involves acquiring specific land parcels within the district of Nanded in Maharashtra. **4. Background and Rationale:** * **(Amendment Explanation):** This amendment seems designed to address a specific need for land acquisition to support the improvement of NH161A. The existing policy framework (National Highways Act, 1956) provides the legal basis, and this notification likely addresses specific bottlenecks or expansion requirements along the identified stretch of the highway. The necessity for widening ("two lane with paved shoulderfour laning etc.") suggests an upgrade of the existing infrastructure is planned or underway. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * **Specific Changes Introduced:** This notification specifically introduces the intention to acquire land parcels identified in the schedule, which are: * Village: Bendi, Survey Plot Number 693 * Village: Jaroda Tanda, Survey Plot Number 39A and 40 * **New Rule/Provision:** The new rule/provision is the declaration of intent to acquire these specific parcels of land. This triggers a process whereby landowners are informed and given the opportunity to object. * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The notification empowers the Central Government to initiate the land acquisition process for the specified parcels. It allows affected landowners to formally object to the acquisition, triggering a review process by the Competent Authority. The practical effect is that the government can legally pursue the acquisition of these lands for the highway project. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the primary target audience and stakeholders are: * Owners and interested parties of the land parcels identified in the schedule (Village: Bendi, Survey Plot Number 693 and Village: Jaroda Tanda, Survey Plot Numbers 39A and 40). * The Competent Authority (CALA Kinwat), responsible for handling objections and conducting inquiries. * The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, overseeing the project. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the responsible agency. The Competent Authority (CALA Kinwat) is responsible for implementing the objection process. * **Timelines and procedures:** A key timeline is the 21-day period from the date of publication (April 12, 2021) within which interested parties can object to the land acquisition. The procedure involves submitting written objections to the Competent Authority, who must then provide an opportunity for a hearing. * **(Amendment Implementation):** Implementation of this amendment requires the Competent Authority to actively receive and process any objections received within the specified timeframe. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** * **(Amendment Expected Outcome):** The intended outcome of this specific amendment is to clear the way for the acquisition of the identified land parcels, enabling the project to proceed and facilitating the upgrade and maintenance of NH161A. Successful acquisition will lead to the potential displacement or alteration of activities on the acquired land, with compensation to be determined. **9. Conclusion:** The notification S.O. 1560(E) signals a key step in the building and upgrading of National Highway 161A. This partial amendment details the intention to acquire specific land parcels and outlines the objection process for affected parties. The successful implementation of this notification is crucial for the timely execution of the NH161A project, leading to improved infrastructure and connectivity.

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