In order to expedite the construction on the Delhi stretch of the Dwarka Expressway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will soon issue a notification for the acquisition of 24.03 hectares of private land required for the completion of the road. The land falls in Bamnoli and Bijwasan villages of Delhi and its acquisition will facilitate the completion of the Delhi section of the expressway.

On March 21, the high court had ruled in favour of the completion of the Dwarkra Expressway, also known as the Northern Peripheral Road, in Gurgaon.

The NHAI has also got in-principle approval for the transfer of 90 metres (right of way) for completion of the section from Bajghera to Mahipalpur in Delhi. The rest of the land is owned by Delhi government agencies that have promised to transfer it to the highways authority once the land acquisition process reaches the final stage.

Ashok Sharma, project direction, NHAI, said the notification for identifying the land has been finalised and it has been sent to the headquarters for review and publication. “Once this notification is published, the highways authority will be able to acquire the land in the next two months after the revenue authorities complete the process,” Sharma said.

He also said the highway authority was keen on completing the expressway at the earliest but the process of land acquisition had to be followed as per the NHAI Act. If things go as planned, the NHAI would be able to acquire 42 hectares in the next two months and start work on the Delhi section, Sharma said.

Revenue authorities of Kapashera will decide on the acquisition of this land, and once they finish it, no mutation or sale can be executed. The NHAI consultant had earlier earmarked a large chunk of private land to be acquired. However, the authorities reworked the plan, and the design, and reduced the requirement, as the cost of the land in Bijwasan and Bamnoli was exorbitant.

In Gurgaon, the construction of the Dwarka Expressway had been stuck for several years, but, this week, the Punjab and Haryana high court set aside a petition by the land owners, and also vacated a stay on rehabilitation of GPA/SPA holders. The court ruling is likely to ensure the completion of the Gurgaon section of the highway.