The centre has suggested changes to the National Highways Act, in order to give back land acquired for highway construction to its original owners after five years if it is not utilised in projects. The move is part of a larger plan to expedite land acquisition and reduce compensation disputes.
The Cabinet has already been presented with a proposal detailing these changes for approval. Several ministries, including the departments of legal affairs and revenue, as well as civil aviation, railways, defence, shipping, coal, and the environment, have reviewed the proposed revisions.
A key change includes highway authorities and landowners not being able to contest compensation amounts for more than three months following the announcement of an award. Another crucial modified clause would enable the government to designate any intersection of highways with other transportation networks, such railroads, and airports, as a component of the national highways (NH)network.
Overall, the modifications in the act are intended to increase the efficiency of land acquisition for NH and associated infrastructure projects. It will also forbid landowners from making transactions on the land once a government notification for acquisition is issued, thereby preventing speculative building.
Moreover, to improve transparency and give stakeholders quick access to information, the government also intends to launch a web page for publishing land acquisition notices.