Central Government Declares Acquisition and Vesting of Land for National Highway 244 Expansion in Doda

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification, S.O. 3696(E), on August 13, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of specific land parcels for the development of National Highway No. 244 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This declaration follows an earlier notification, S.O.936 (E) dated February 21, 2025, which had initially conveyed the Central Government's intention to acquire land under sub-section (1) of section 3A of the National Highway Act, 1956 (Act 48 of 1956). The land, located in the Doda district, specifically along the stretch from design Km. 0.000 to Km. 1.125 (Link Road to Bargana Village), is designated for building, including widening and 2-laning, as well as for the maintenance, management, and operation of the national highway. The substance of the initial notification was published in the Daily Excelsior (English) on April 13, 2025, and in Amar Ujala (Hindi) on April 14, 2025, as required by sub-section (3) of section 3A of the Act, allowing for public awareness and the filing of objections. The Competent Authority, after receiving and considering objections filed under Section 3-C of the Act, settled them appropriately. Subsequently, the Competent Authority submitted its report to the Central Government in pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 3D of the said Act. Upon the publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, the land detailed in the annexed Schedule will vest absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances (meaning full ownership transfers to the government without any existing claims or liabilities on the land).

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate crucial infrastructure development by ensuring the availability of land for the expansion and improvement of National Highway No. 244. The policy rationale underscores the government's commitment to enhancing national connectivity and transportation networks. The National Highway Act, 1956, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, outlining a structured process that begins with an initial declaration of intent, followed by public notification, consideration of objections, and a final declaration of acquisition and vesting. This process addresses the practical necessity of acquiring private and other lands for public projects, thereby overcoming potential statutory gaps or limitations that might otherwise impede large-scale infrastructure initiatives. The notification itself does not introduce new rights or obligations in the broader sense but rather operationalizes existing provisions of the National Highway Act, 1956, for a specific project. The enforcement mechanism is clearly defined through the sequential steps mandated by the Act, culminating in the vesting of land upon official gazette publication. 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.” This ensures a clear legal title for the Central Government, enabling the uninterrupted progress of the highway project. The Schedule appended to the notification meticulously lists various survey/plot numbers, types of land (predominantly private un-irrigated), areas in hectares, and names of land owners or interested persons in Village Hambal, Taluk Doda, within the Doda district, totaling approximately 1.2026751 hectares.

Keywords: National Highway Act 1956, land acquisition, NH-244, Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, infrastructure, road development, land vesting, notification
Geo Tags: India, Jammu and Kashmir
District: Doda