Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for NH152 Widening in Haryana

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification, S.O. 3943(E), dated August 28, 2025, declaring the acquisition of specific land parcels for the development of National Highway 152 (NH152) in Haryana. This notification follows an earlier declaration of intent, S.O. 1597(E), dated April 2, 2025, which was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary. The Central Government had previously expressed its intention to acquire land for the building, maintenance, management, and operation of NH152, specifically for widening or four-laning, along a stretch from Km. 0 to Km. 42.5 within the Kurukshetra district. The substance of the initial notification was subsequently published in prominent newspapers, the Times of India and Dainik Jagran, both on May 2, 2025, as required under sub-section (3) of section 3A of the National Highway Act, 1956 (48 of 1956). No objections were received by the competent authority (an officer appointed by the Central Government to perform functions under the Act) following this public notice. Consequently, the competent authority submitted its report to the Central Government in pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 3D of the said Act. Upon receipt of this report, the Central Government proceeded with the formal declaration of acquisition. The land specified in the annexed Schedule, detailing survey/plot numbers, type of land, area in hectares, and names of land owners, is now officially acquired for the stated purpose. This notification came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on August 28, 2025.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate crucial infrastructure development by ensuring the smooth and legally sound acquisition of land necessary for the expansion and improvement of national highways. The earlier legal position, as established by the National Highway Act, 1956, provides a structured framework for such acquisitions, beginning with a declaration of intent, followed by public notification, an opportunity for objections, and a subsequent report by the competent authority. This notification addresses the statutory requirement to formally declare the acquisition and vest the land in the Central Government after all preliminary steps have been completed and no objections were raised. 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 provision ensures that the acquired land becomes the unencumbered property of the Central Government, allowing for the unimpeded progress of the NH152 project, which includes widening and four-laning. The process ensures that the land is acquired for public purposes, specifically for enhancing connectivity and transportation infrastructure. The detailed schedule appended to the notification identifies the specific private agricultural land parcels in villages like Jalbhera and Thol within the Ismailabad Taluk of Kurukshetra district, along with their respective owners, ensuring transparency and precision in the acquisition process. This action is a direct implementation of the National Highway Act, 1956, designed to overcome potential impediments to national highway projects by providing a clear legal mechanism for land transfer.

Keywords: Land acquisition, National Highway Act 1956, NH152, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Haryana, Kurukshetra, infrastructure, road widening, government notification
Geo Tags: India, Haryana
District: Kurukshetra