Green Light for Highways: New Clearance Framework

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced a structured framework for land acquisition and statutory clearances for all national highway projects going up for bidding from June 1, 2025. The move aims to streamline project approvals, bidding, and start dates, reducing delays and minimizing disputes, cost overruns, and timeline slippages.

As per the new guidelines, environmental and wildlife clearances, utility shifting estimates, and railway general arrangement drawings must be finalized before inviting bids. Similarly, general arrangement drawings from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) are to be completed before the bidding process, while forest clearance is required before issuing the Letter of Award.

In terms of land acquisition, at least 90% of the Right of Way (ROW) must be secured before bid submission.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari noted in Parliament that as of March 2024, 419 out of 952 national highway projects—each valued at ₹150 crore or more—were delayed due to issues such as land acquisition, clearances, utility relocation, encroachment, and law and order challenges. Maharashtra reported the most delayed projects (59 out of 101), while northeastern states and union territories were proportionally the worst affected.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.