Central Government Declares Land Acquisition for NH-727B Expansion in Deoria District of Uttar Pradesh

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a statutory notification on November 17, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of land for the development of National Highway 727B in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Exercising powers under the National Highways Act, 1956, the Central Government moved to acquire specific land parcels situated in the Deoria district to facilitate the widening, maintenance, and management of the highway stretch connecting Tamkuhiraj to Salempur Road. This declaration followed a preliminary notification issued on June 24, 2025, which signaled the government's intent to take over the land for public infrastructure purposes.

The acquisition process adhered to the procedural requirements mandated by the National Highways Act, 1956. Following the initial notification, the substance of the government's intent was published in local and national newspapers, including Aaj and the Times of India, on July 10, 2025. This provided an opportunity for affected parties to raise objections under the statutory framework. However, the competent authority reported that no objections were received under Section 3C of the Act, leading to the final submission of a report to the Central Government. Consequently, the current notification serves as the final declaration under Section 3D, effectively transferring ownership of the identified land to the Union.

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 scope of this acquisition covers a stretch of land from kilometer 35.400 to kilometer 52.345. The affected areas span several villages within the Bhatprarani taluk (a sub-district administrative unit), including Bhingari, Chhapiya, Sirsiya Mishra, Khampar, Tengri, Badkagaon, Chhotkagaon, and Pakdibabu. The schedule of land includes both private agricultural plots and government-owned non-agricultural land, totaling approximately 0.2981 hectares. By invoking Section 3D(2) of the Act, the government ensured that the land is now held free from all encumbrances (legal liabilities or third-party claims), allowing for immediate commencement of construction activities, which may include two-laning with paved shoulders or four-laning.

The policy rationale behind this measure is the enhancement of regional connectivity and the modernization of the national highway network. Prior to this notification, the land remained under the ownership of various private individuals and state entities. The transition to central ownership is a critical step in the statutory timeline for infrastructure projects, ensuring that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways possesses the necessary legal title to operate and manage the corridor. This notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette of India.

Keywords: National Highways Act 1956, Land Acquisition, NH-727B, Uttar Pradesh, Deoria, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Infrastructure Development, Section 3D

Geo Tags: India, Uttar Pradesh
District: Deoria