Whereas by the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

## Policy Analysis Report: Land Acquisition for National Highway NH17 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, dated January 13, 2021, concerning the acquisition of land for building, widening, four-laning, maintenance, management and operation of Connecting road NH17 to Multimodal Logistics Park (MMLP) on the stretch of land from Km 0 to Km 3.1 District Commissioner office Bongaigaon in the district of BONGAIGAON in the state of ASSAM. The notification declares the Central Government's intention to acquire specific land parcels, following due process of notification, consideration of objections, and submission of a report by the competent authority. This report provides an overview of the policy, its background, key provisions, affected stakeholders, implementation aspects, and expected outcomes based solely on the provided text. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a detailed analysis of the notification S.O. 142(E) issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways regarding land acquisition for the development of Connecting road NH17 to MMLP, as described in the provided text. The analysis is based solely on the information contained within the document. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a *new* policy initiative. * **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective is to acquire land for "building, widening, four-laning, etc., maintenance, management and operation of Connecting road NH17 to MMLP on the stretch of land from Km 0 to Km 3.1 District Commissioner office Bongaigaon in the district of BONGAIGAON in the state of ASSAM". **4. Background and Rationale:** As a new policy initiative, the notification addresses the need to develop or improve road infrastructure, specifically Connecting road NH17 to MMLP. The text implies that the existing infrastructure is inadequate, necessitating widening, four-laning, or other forms of enhancement to facilitate improved connectivity. The mention of connecting NH17 to an MMLP (Multimodal Logistics Park) suggests the project aims to improve logistics and transportation efficiency in the region. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** As this is a new policy (in the context of the provided document), the key provisions are: * **Declaration of Intent to Acquire Land:** The Central Government declares its intention to acquire land specified in the schedule annexed to the notification. * **Legal Basis:** The acquisition is based on the National Highway Act, 1956. Specifically, it references sub-section 1 of section 3A and sub-section 1 and 2 of section 3D of the Act. * **Vesting of Land:** Upon publication of the notification in the Official Gazette, the land specified in the Schedule shall vest absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances. * **Schedule of Land:** The notification includes a schedule detailing the land to be acquired, including survey numbers, type of land, nature of land (agriculture), area in hectares, and names of landowners/interested parties. The land parcels are located in the village Koreya Pahar, Taluk: Boitamari, District: BONGAIGAON, State: ASSAM. * **Affected Land:** The schedule identifies specific plots of land to be acquired, including plot numbers 58 and 61 in the village of Koreya Pahar. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The directly affected stakeholders include: * **Landowners/Interested Persons:** Specifically, "SabhapatiSampadak Achani Ambari Dong Committee, Chatpara" and "Ms Ashok Paper Mills Limited" identified in the schedule. * **Residents of Koreya Pahar village:** Due to the proximity of land acquisition to the village. * **The district administration of BONGAIGAON:** Is likely involved in the land acquisition process. * **Users of Connecting road NH17 to MMLP:** Who will benefit from the improved infrastructure. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** * Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (Central Government) * District Commissioner office Bongaigaon * Competent Authority (as mentioned in the notification, responsible for submitting the report). * **Timelines or procedures:** * The notification follows a procedure outlined in the National Highway Act, 1956, including notification of intent, consideration of objections, and submission of a report. * The land vests with the Central Government upon publication of the notification in the Official Gazette. * **Process:** This document states that the process of considering/disallowing objections was completed. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcomes include: * **Improved Road Infrastructure:** Construction, widening, or four-laning of the specified stretch of Connecting road NH17 to MMLP. * **Enhanced Connectivity:** Facilitation of smoother and more efficient transportation along the route. * **Economic Development:** Support for economic activities related to the MMLP and improved logistics. **9. Conclusion:** The notification S.O. 142(E) signals the government's commitment to improving road infrastructure by acquiring land for the Connecting road NH17 to MMLP project. The notification initiates the formal process of land acquisition under the National Highway Act, 1956. Successful implementation of this policy is expected to enhance connectivity, facilitate economic growth, and improve logistics efficiency in the Bongaigaon district of Assam. The notification is a crucial step in the overall infrastructure development plan for the region.

Key Entities Referenced