Central Government Notifies Intent to Acquire Land for NH-48 Expansion in Maharashtra

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued Notification S.O. 3903(E) on August 25, 2025, declaring its intention to acquire land for the expansion and improvement of National Highway 48 (NH-48) in Maharashtra. This notification, published in the Official Gazette, signifies the commencement of the land acquisition process under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956. The Central Government, exercising powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3A of the said Act, determined that the land is required for the public purpose of building, maintenance, management, and operation of NH-48. Specifically, the acquisition targets a stretch of land from Km. 592.240 to Km. 658.000, known as the Kagal-Satara Section, located within the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. The project encompasses various improvements, including widening, two-lane construction with paved shoulders, four-laning, or six-laning, as required. The notification details specific parcels of private agricultural land across villages such as Ghunki, Kini, and Shiroli in the Hatkanangle Taluk, totaling approximately 0.9745 hectares, which are slated for acquisition. Interested persons have a period of twenty-one days from the date of the notification's publication to submit objections to the proposed land use. These objections must be made in writing to the Competent Authority, identified as the Sub Divisional Officer, Ichalkaranji, Sub-Division Ichalkaranji, and must clearly state the grounds for objection. The Competent Authority is mandated to provide an opportunity for the objector to be heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner, and may conduct further inquiry before issuing a final order to either allow or disallow the objections. The order passed by the Competent Authority under sub-section (2) of section 3C of the National Highways Act, 1956, will be conclusive. Land plans and other pertinent details regarding the acquisition are available for inspection at the office of the Competent Authority.

This legislative action is driven by the policy rationale of enhancing national infrastructure and improving connectivity through the development of national highways. The National Highways Act, 1956, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, ensuring that land essential for public projects can be secured while also safeguarding the rights of affected landowners. The notification addresses the ongoing need for upgrading existing highway networks to accommodate increasing traffic volumes and improve road safety and efficiency. By invoking the provisions of the Act, the Central Government aims to streamline the process for acquiring land for critical infrastructure projects. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government, after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the land, the brief description of which is given in the Schedule below, is required for building (widening/two lane with paved shoulder/four laning/six laning etc.,), maintenance, management and operation of NH-48 in the stretch of land from Km. 592.240 to Km. 658.000(Kagal-Satara Section) in the district of KOLHAPUR in the state of MAHARASHTRA, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.” This declaration initiates a formal process that includes a mechanism for public participation through objections, ensuring transparency and due process. The requirement for objections to be heard by a Competent Authority (an official designated to handle specific legal matters) and for a final order to be issued establishes a clear enforcement mechanism and a statutory timeline for addressing grievances related to the acquisition. This process ensures that while public infrastructure development proceeds, individual rights are considered and adjudicated.

Keywords: Land Acquisition, National Highway, NH-48, Maharashtra, Kolhapur, Road Transport, Infrastructure, Public Purpose, Notification, National Highways Act 1956

Geo Tags: India, Maharashtra
District: Kolhapur