Central Government Declares Land Acquisition for NH31 Expansion in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued Notification S.O. 3871(E) on August 25, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of land for the development of National Highway 31 in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. This notification, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), follows a statutory process initiated under the National Highway Act, 1956. The Central Government had previously declared its intention to acquire land for the building, maintenance, management, and operation of NH31, specifically for widening or four-laning, along a stretch from Km. 42.500 to Km. 114.700 and a Buxar spur from Km. 10.500 to Km. 17.270 (Collectorate Ballia). This initial declaration was made through Notification S.O. 2821(E) on June 24, 2025, under sub-section (1) of section 3A of the said Act. The substance of this earlier notification was subsequently published in the newspapers Dainik Jagran and The Times of India on June 27, 2025, as required by sub-section (3) of section 3A. Following this, objections were received, considered, and ultimately disallowed by the competent authority. The competent authority then submitted its report to the Central Government in pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 3D of the Act. Upon receipt of this report, the Central Government proceeded with the final declaration of acquisition. The notification specifies a particular parcel of private agricultural land, measuring 0.0255 hectares, located in Village Bariya, Taluk Bairia, owned by Shakuntala Devi w/o Rajendra Pratap and Rinku Devi w/o Vinod Kumar Gupta, as part of the land to be acquired. The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on August 25, 2025.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate crucial infrastructure development by enabling the expansion and improvement of National Highway 31. The National Highway Act, 1956, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, ensuring a structured process for land procurement necessary for national projects. The notification addresses the need for specific land parcels to overcome limitations in the existing road network, allowing for the widening and four-laning of the highway, which is essential for enhancing connectivity, reducing travel time, and improving road safety. The earlier legal position required a declaration of intent and an opportunity for public objections, which were duly processed. The current notification, by declaring the acquisition, vests the specified land absolutely in the Central Government. 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 vesting means the Central Government obtains clear and unencumbered title to the land, removing any prior claims or liabilities, which is critical for the smooth execution of highway construction projects. This mechanism ensures that once the land is acquired through the prescribed legal process, it is immediately available for public use and development without further legal impediments. The enforcement of this declaration is immediate upon its publication, allowing the project to proceed without delay.

Keywords: National Highway Act, land acquisition, NH31, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, infrastructure, road development, notification, highway expansion
Geo Tags: India, Uttar Pradesh
District: Ballia