Central Government Appoints Competent Authorities for National Highway 151AD Upgradation in Gujarat

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a statutory notification on October 22, 2025, under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956, to facilitate the expansion of infrastructure in the State of Gujarat. This notification, identified as S.O. 4791(E), marks a significant administrative step in the land acquisition process for the upgradation of National Highway 151AD. The Central Government exercised its delegated legislative powers to authorize specific revenue officers to function as competent authorities for the acquisition of land stretches required for the project. The notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette, providing the legal basis for the designated officials to commence their statutory duties.

The scope of the legislation encompasses the upgradation of National Highway 151AD to a two-lane configuration with paved shoulders (an auxiliary area adjacent to the main carriageway designed to provide structural support and emergency space). The project covers a total distance of approximately 64.926 kilometers, divided into three distinct segments. The first segment spans from kilometer 0 to 26.2, starting near Mehsul Bhavan in Khambaliya. The second segment continues from kilometer 26.2 to 32.8 near the government circuit house in Devbhumi Dwarka, while the final stretch extends from kilometer 32.8 to 64.926, concluding at the Jila Seva Sadan in Porbandar.

The legislation provided: “In exercise of powers conferred by clause (a) of section 3 of the National Highways Act, 1956(48 of 1956), the Central Government hereby authorizes the officers mentioned in column (2) of the Schedule annexed here to as the competent authorities to perform the functions of such authorities under the said Act with effect from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette.”

The administrative framework established by this notification identifies three primary officers to lead the acquisition proceedings. The Prant Officer of Khambaliya is tasked with overseeing the initial stretch in the Khambhalia taluk, covering villages such as Harshadpur, Ramnagar, and Lalparda. The Prant Officer of Dwarka Rural is authorized for the middle segment within the Kalyanpur taluk, affecting the villages of Dhaturiya, Khirasara, and Nagadiya. Finally, the Deputy Collector of Porbandar is designated for the longest stretch within the Porbandar taluk, which includes fifteen distinct areas such as Bhetkadi, Advana, and the Porbandar municipality itself.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to streamline the statutory requirements for highway development by decentralizing authority to local administrative heads. Under the National Highways Act, 1956, the appointment of a Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) is a mandatory prerequisite for the government to exercise its power of eminent domain (the right of the state to acquire private property for public use). By formally naming these officers, the government addresses the legal necessity of having a designated official to hear objections, determine compensation, and take possession of the land.

This notification addresses the statutory gap between the policy decision to upgrade the highway and the physical execution of the project. The policy rationale focuses on enhancing regional connectivity and road safety through the provision of paved shoulders, which are essential for modernizing the existing highway network. The earlier legal position required a formal declaration of intent and the identification of specific land parcels, which this notification facilitates by listing the affected villages and the corresponding authorities. The enforcement mechanism now rests with the appointed Prant Officers and the Deputy Collector, who will operate under the timelines and procedures established by the 1956 Act to ensure the timely completion of the infrastructure project.

Keywords: National Highways Act 1956, Land Acquisition, Gujarat Infrastructure, NH 151AD, Competent Authority, Ministry of Road Transport, Gazette Notification

Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar