Land delays hit road projs; 31,000 hectares acquired in 3 yrs

Delays in acquisition of land for construction of highways has hit projects even as government has acquired over 31,000 hectares for building roads in the last three years, Parliament was informed today.
Government has noticed various issues causing delays in land acquisition and they are being addressed in consultation with state governments, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
"Issues in acquisition of land varying from project to project, in various states, such as, delay in appointment of competent authority, frequent transfer of competent authority, disputes with competent authorities regarding method of payment of compensation, delay in valuation of structures ...Pending court cases etc have come to the notice," he said.

The minister said that a well laid dispute resolution mechanism was put in place for that and building, maintenance, operation and management of National Highways (NHs), acquisition of land and payment of compensation is given after passing of award by the competent authority.
He said that during the last three years, between 2011-12 and 2013-14, a total of 31,076 hectares was acquired by the National Highways Authority of India for developing roads.
In reply to another query in the same House, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the government has constructed 1,050 km of highways till February in the current fiscal.

He added that Rs 9,566 crore has been allocated to National Highways Authority of India as fuel cess for funding developmental projects on NHs during 2014-15.
About the quantum of fuel cess allocated to NHAI, he said Rs 9,566 crore has been given to it for development projects during the fiscal.
"The amount under fuel cess is released to NHAI after receiving utilisation certificate from them, he said adding question of diverting fuel cess allocated to NHAI to other projects does not arise.