Government plans amendments to National Highways Act for land return

The Indian government is planning to amend the National Highways Act to allow for the return of land acquired for highway development if it remains unused for five years. A senior highways ministry official noted that there is currently no provision for denotifying such land, which has created a backlog in land acquisition processes. The amendment aims to expedite these processes to meet the infrastructure needs for national highways and associated amenities. The proposed changes will be presented to the Cabinet and Parliament for approval soon. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to improving transportation infrastructure in the country.