NEW DELHI: The government is set to rank states based on the quality of land records, the ease of land acquisition, and their active participation in highway development projects. Delays in land acquisition and poor land records are major obstacles to executing road projects.
“We plan to assess states based on their land records’ quality, acquisition ease, and the support provided for land procurement. This will enable us to set project timelines based on each state’s fulfillment of these criteria,” said V Umashankar, the Secretary of Road Transport and Highways, during a workshop on effective project preparation organized by the Build India Foundation.
The secretary highlighted that issues such as missing plots (unacquired areas) often emerge only after project approval and during the tendering phase. “Such problems can surface 7-8 months in, leading to project delays. Addressing missing plots introduces further complications, causing significant timing issues down the line. Some states face these missing plot challenges at a rate of 100%,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive land plan for successful project execution.
Regarding project preparation challenges, Umashankar cited an example from the US, where 38% of land is controlled by federal and state governments, facilitating expressway development.
