Central Government Notifies Intent to Acquire Land for NH53 Development in Odisha

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a Notification, S.O. 3898(E), on August 25, 2025, declaring the Central Government's intention to acquire specific land parcels for the development of National Highway 53 (NH53) in Odisha. This action was taken in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3A of the National Highways Act, 1956 (48 of 1956). The notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on the same date. The Central Government, having been satisfied that the land is required for a public purpose, specified its use for building, maintenance, management, and operation of NH53. This includes purposes such as widening, two-laning with paved shoulders, or four-laning of the highway stretch from Km. 65.755 to Km. 77, located at Kujanga in the Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha. The land identified for acquisition includes private 'Patita' (barren) and 'Gharabari' (homestead) land in Village Udayabata, Taluk Kujang, totaling approximately 0.0225819 hectares.

The notification establishes a procedure for objections, allowing any person interested in the said land to object to its proposed use within twenty-one days from the date of the notification's publication. Such objections must be submitted in writing to the Competent Authority, identified as the Tahasildar, Kujanga, and must clearly state the grounds for objection. The Competent Authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity of being heard, either in person or through a legal practitioner. Following the hearing of objections and any necessary further inquiry, the Competent Authority will issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections, and this order shall be final under sub-section (2) of section 3C of the National Highways Act, 1956. Detailed land plans and other relevant information regarding the land to be acquired are available for inspection at the office of the Competent Authority.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate crucial infrastructure development for the public good, specifically enhancing the capacity and operational efficiency of National Highway 53. The policy rationale underscores the government's commitment to improving national connectivity and transportation networks. By invoking the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956, the Central Government addresses the ongoing need for land to expand and maintain national highways, thereby overcoming potential statutory gaps or limitations in land availability for such projects. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government, after being satisfied that for the public purpose, the land...is required for building (widening/two lane with paved shoulder/four laning etc..), maintenance, management and operation of NH53...hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.” This process ensures that while land is acquired for public infrastructure, affected individuals are afforded a statutory mechanism to raise concerns. The notification does not introduce new rights or obligations beyond those already established by the National Highways Act, 1956, but rather operationalizes the existing framework for specific land acquisition. The enforcement mechanism is clearly defined through the Competent Authority's role and the stipulated timeline for objections, ensuring a structured approach to land acquisition for national highway projects.

Keywords: National Highways Act 1956, land acquisition, NH53, Odisha, Jagatsinghpur, Kujanga, road transport, infrastructure, public purpose, notification

Geo Tags: Country: India, State: Odisha
District: Jagatsinghpur