Central Government Acquires Land in Tapi District for National Highway 753B Infrastructure Development

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a formal notification on September 22, 2025, declaring the final acquisition of land in the Tapi district of Gujarat for the development of National Highway 753B. This statutory instrument, designated as S.O. 4259(E), was promulgated under the National Highways Act, 1956, specifically following the procedures laid down for the compulsory acquisition of land for public purposes. The acquisition pertains to a specific stretch of land from kilometer 66.365 to kilometer 74.95, which has been identified for the construction of a toll plaza as well as the ongoing maintenance, management, and operation of the highway. The notification confirmed that the acquisition process reached its conclusion following the settlement of all procedural requirements, and the land came into the possession of the state upon the publication of the notice in the Official Gazette.

The declaration followed a preliminary notification issued on October 10, 2024, under Section 3A of the Act, which initially signaled the Central Government’s intention to acquire the property. To ensure transparency and provide an opportunity for public response, the substance of that notification was published in The Indian Express and Divya Bhaskar in November 2024. In the intervening period, the competent authority (the designated official responsible for land acquisition proceedings) received and evaluated objections filed by interested parties under Section 3C of the Act. Following the consideration and settlement of these objections, a report was submitted to the Central Government, which subsequently exercised its powers to finalize the acquisition. The land involved is located within the Nizar Taluk in the village of Harduli Digar, involving approximately 0.0825 hectares of private dry land.

The legislation provided: “the Central Government hereby declares that on publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, the land specified in the said Schedule shall vest absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances.”

The legislative intent behind this notification is rooted in the policy rationale of expanding and modernizing India’s national highway network to facilitate smoother interstate commerce and travel. By utilizing the National Highways Act, 1956, the government addressed the statutory necessity of securing clear legal titles to private land required for public utility. The earlier legal framework required a rigorous process of notification and grievance redressal to balance private property rights with public infrastructure needs. This notification effectively resolves any statutory gaps by providing a finality to the acquisition process, ensuring that the land is free from all encumbrances (legal claims or liabilities attached to a property).

The enforcement of this notification allows for the immediate commencement of infrastructure works, specifically the toll plaza, which serves as a critical enforcement mechanism for revenue collection and highway management. By substituting private ownership with absolute government vesting, the notification ensures that the statutory timelines for the NH753 B project are met without further legal delays. This move reflects the broader statutory framework where the state’s power of eminent domain is exercised to address the limitations of existing road infrastructure, thereby facilitating the construction of essential facilities required for the management and operation of national transport corridors.

Keywords: National Highways Act 1956, Land Acquisition, NH753 B, Tapi District, Gujarat, Toll Plaza Construction, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Section 3D, Harduli Digar

Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: Tapi