Support to states to expedite land acquisition for roads

Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highway Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said the central government has taken a string of steps to expedite land acquisition for road and highway constructions.

"Several steps have been taken to address issues that lead to delay in land acquisition, including providing technical and organisational support to the revenue authorities in the state governments, appointment of additional officers as Competent Authority for Land Acquisition and Arbitrator for expediting acquisition," Mandaviya told the Rajya Sabha.

The other steps are procurement of land through consent where missing plots are left out from the bulk acquisition and/or additional land is required due to alteration of alignment at implementation stage.

"Determination of amount of compensation in consonance with the relevant provisions contained in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition in Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, with effect from 01.01.2015," said Mandaviya.

"Procurement of land as per respective state government policies and including the administrative charges and other charges payable by the land acquiring department as per the concerned state government's policy in the land acquisition estimates for National Highway Projects," added Mandaviya.

--IANS

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