Dr. CP Joshi Reiews Land Acqisition Status for National Highway Projects

Dr C P Joshi, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has emphasized the need to streamline the land acquisition process in order to fast track the road construction projects by NHAI and State agencies. The Minister said this while reviewing the status of land acquisition for NHDP and also other road construction programmes of the Ministry here today in a meeting with senior officers.

Expressing concern over slow progress of land acquisition for the National Highway Projects to be executed in 2013-14, he said that State Governments also need to take necessary initiatives in order to accelerate the process of land acquisition for NH projects, especially in view of the conditions imposed under EPC projects, which stipulate 90% land availability on the date of award of the project. The Minister was of the view that the proposals for declaration of National Highways require due diligence on part of the State Governments. The State Government should ensure that the encumbrance free land is provided at the time of submission of the proposal of declaration of National Highways, he added.