The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has prepared a proposal seeking the Cabinet’s nod to acquire land along the existing or new highways.
The land will be utilised for developing townships, logistics and solar parks, entertainment hubs and other wayside amenities. NHAI will set up a separate vertical to deal with the real estate business.
Once the NH Act is amended, this will also become a primary activity like developing and maintaining highways. NHAI will acquire big land parcels of 3,000 acre to 10,000 acre along the upcoming highways and expressways.
Townships can come up on this land and the government can invest to set up medical university or other educational facility. The NHAI is looking at such plans along the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai and other 21 greenfield expressways.
NHAI will seek amendments in the NH Act to acquire more land to create land banks to meet future expansion requirements and for monetisation of land parcels.