Consultation for land acquisition is difficult. In the project, two sections (0.5% of the project roads) are not yet completed owing to difficulty in acquiring the land. The NHAI recently adopted a policy that construction procurements will be started only when more than 80% of land acquisition is completed. However, even if this policy had been adopted in the project, the project still might not have resolved the issues it faced. Land acquisition is a difficult issue in India, and lack of careful consultation with landowners can lead to delays in the acquisition of land for roads. Moreover, the inclusion of religious sites in land acquisition plans entails both more time and thorough planning and consultation, as resolving the issue requires a more conservative approach.
National Highway Corridor (Sector) I Project