Central Government Notifies Final Land Acquisition for NH-565 Widening in Andhra Pradesh

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued Notification S.O. 3700(E) on August 13, 2025, formally declaring the acquisition of land for the development of National Highway 565. This notification, published in the Official Gazette, finalized the process initiated by an earlier declaration of intent, S.O. 4517(E), dated October 15, 2024. The Central Government had previously expressed its intention to acquire land for the building, including widening to two lanes with paved shoulders or four laning, as well as the maintenance, management, and operation of NH-565. The specific stretch of highway affected spans from Km. 261.700 to Km. 267.200, covering the Kasireddy nagar to Kothuru Section within the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. The substance of the initial declaration was also published in The Times of India and Andhra Prabha on October 25, 2024, ensuring public awareness as mandated by sub-section (3) of section 3A of the National Highway Act, 1956 (48 of 1956). The Competent Authority, an official empowered to handle land acquisition matters, had received, considered, and appropriately settled objections filed under Section 3-C of the said Act before submitting its report to the Central Government. Upon the publication of this notification, the land detailed in the annexed Schedule, which includes various private (patta) plots designated as dry or wet land, totaling approximately 0.7002 hectares, vested absolutely in the Central Government, free from all encumbrances (meaning without any claims, charges, or liabilities).

This executive action by the Central Government underscores its commitment to enhancing national infrastructure, a key policy rationale for such legislative measures. The National Highway Act, 1956, provides the statutory framework for the acquisition of land necessary for the construction and development of national highways. The current notification addresses the final stage of this process, following the initial declaration of intent and the subsequent resolution of public objections. The legislative intent is to facilitate seamless and efficient land acquisition for critical infrastructure projects, thereby improving connectivity and fostering economic growth. The earlier legal position involved a preliminary notification of intent, allowing affected parties to raise objections. By considering and settling these objections, the process ensures adherence to due procedure before the final declaration of acquisition. The notification introduces a definitive legal consequence: the transfer of ownership of the specified land to the Central Government, enabling the commencement of the highway development work. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government hereby declares that the land specified in the said Schedule should be acquired for the aforesaid purpose; And further, in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 3D of the said Act, 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 ensures that the government can proceed with the widening and upgrading of NH-565 without legal impediments, thereby fulfilling the broader objective of modernizing India's road network.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, National Highway Act 1956, NH-565, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Andhra Pradesh, Prakasam, Infrastructure Development, Government Notification, Land Vesting

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh
District: Prakasam