NEW DELHI: In its bid to free up two sets of surplus land totalling around 700 hectares, road transport ministry will soon seek cabinet approval to de-notify land parcels where govt has not taken possession even after a long time since the acquisition process was initiated. In the second set, where excess land is available even after completion of highway projects, the ministry plans to use them for developing wayside amenities, including resting facilities for drivers.
Sources said the ministry is giving final touches to the policy.As per the proposed policy, after de-notifying the first set of surplus land, it will allow owners to take them back. TOI has learnt that the quantum of such land parcels is around 350 hectares. Officials said due to change in lane configuration or tweaking of alignment, govt ends up acquiring less land. But once govt issues a 3D notification to notify affected landowners about its intention to acquire land for a specific project, it is impossible for them to sell their land or monetise them.
The ministry will seek one-time relief for de-notification of such land parcels. Since the value of such land parcels would have gone up for their proximity to the highway network, govt expects landowners to take them back.
In case of the second set of land parcels which are in govt possession but have become surplus after expansion and construction of highway stretches, the proposal is to use them for developing wayside amenities, including resting facilities for drivers. Sources said this will result in efficient utilisation of land along the NH networks. The highway ministry has plans to develop 600 wayside amenities for commuters and there is a plan to create around 1,000 resting facilities for long-haul truck and other commercial drivers.
The PMO has taken meetings recently on the plan to create resting facilities for drivers which PM Narendra Modi had promised at a mobility expo in Feb. “Since the acquired land will be utilised for creating facilities for highway commuters, it should not be an issue. The two proposals need approval from the cabinet,” an official said.
Sources said the road transport ministry is proposing to amend the NH Act to align the land acquisition provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, popularly known as Land Acquisition Act, which provisions return of land to original owners if any acquired land remains unutilised for five years from the date of taking over possession.
Sources said the ministry is giving final touches to the policy.As per the proposed policy, after de-notifying the first set of surplus land, it will allow owners to take them back. TOI has learnt that the quantum of such land parcels is around 350 hectares. Officials said due to change in lane configuration or tweaking of alignment, govt ends up acquiring less land. But once govt issues a 3D notification to notify affected landowners about its intention to acquire land for a specific project, it is impossible for them to sell their land or monetise them.
The ministry will seek one-time relief for de-notification of such land parcels. Since the value of such land parcels would have gone up for their proximity to the highway network, govt expects landowners to take them back.
In case of the second set of land parcels which are in govt possession but have become surplus after expansion and construction of highway stretches, the proposal is to use them for developing wayside amenities, including resting facilities for drivers. Sources said this will result in efficient utilisation of land along the NH networks. The highway ministry has plans to develop 600 wayside amenities for commuters and there is a plan to create around 1,000 resting facilities for long-haul truck and other commercial drivers.
The PMO has taken meetings recently on the plan to create resting facilities for drivers which PM Narendra Modi had promised at a mobility expo in Feb. “Since the acquired land will be utilised for creating facilities for highway commuters, it should not be an issue. The two proposals need approval from the cabinet,” an official said.
Sources said the road transport ministry is proposing to amend the NH Act to align the land acquisition provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, popularly known as Land Acquisition Act, which provisions return of land to original owners if any acquired land remains unutilised for five years from the date of taking over possession.