Central Government Notifies Land Acquisition for NH310 Expansion in Sikkim

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued Notification S.O. 3890(E) on August 25, 2025, declaring its intention to acquire land for the development of National Highway 310 in Sikkim. This delegated legislation, published in the Official Gazette, was enacted in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3A of the National Highways Act, 1956 (Act 48 of 1956). The notification specifies that the Central Government is satisfied that the land is required for a public purpose, specifically for the building of a 2-Lane highway with paved shoulders, along with its subsequent maintenance, management, and operation. The identified stretch of land spans from Km. 0.00 to Km. 23.316, connecting Ranipool to Burtuk, within the Gangtok district of Sikkim.

The notification outlines a clear process for individuals affected by the proposed acquisition. Any person interested in the specified land is granted a period of twenty-one days from the date of the notification's publication in the Official Gazette to object to its use for the stated purpose. Such objections must be made in writing to the Competent Authority, identified as the District Collector cum Magistrate, and must detail the grounds for objection. The Competent Authority is mandated to provide the objector an opportunity of being heard, either personally or through a legal practitioner. Following the hearing of all objections and any necessary further inquiry, the Competent Authority will issue an order either allowing or disallowing the objections. Any order passed by the Competent Authority under sub-section (2) of section 3C of the said Act shall be considered final. Details regarding the land plans and other particulars of the land to be acquired are made available for inspection at the office of the Competent Authority. The Schedule appended to the notification provides a brief description of the land parcels, including survey/plot numbers, type and nature of land, and area in hectares, across various villages such as Rawatey Rumtek, Chinzey, Lingdum, Ranka, Sangtong, Luing, Parbing, and Penlong, totaling 1.2018 hectares of private land.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate crucial infrastructure development, specifically the expansion and improvement of National Highway 310, which is vital for connectivity and economic activity in the region. The National Highways Act, 1956, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, and this notification operationalizes those provisions for a specific project. 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 Construction to 2-Lane with paved shoulders, maintenance, management and operation of NH310 in the stretch of land from Km. 0.00 to Km. 23.316 (Ranipool to Burtuk) in the district of Gangtok in the state of SIKKIM, hereby declares its intention to acquire such land.” This action addresses the need for improved road infrastructure by identifying and initiating the process for acquiring the necessary land. The notification establishes a transparent mechanism for affected landowners to voice their concerns, ensuring due process is followed. It creates an obligation on the part of the government to adhere to the prescribed procedure for land acquisition, while granting landowners the right to a fair hearing. The finality of the Competent Authority's decision streamlines the acquisition process, aiming to balance public interest with individual rights.

Keywords: National Highways Act, land acquisition, NH310, Sikkim, Gangtok, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, infrastructure, public purpose, notification, land development
Geo Tags: India, Sikkim
District: Gangtok