Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that no new national highway project should be given approval unless 100 per cent of the land is acquired, calling land acquisition one of the biggest bottlenecks in highway construction.
Speaking at the 17th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards and Exhibitions on Viksit Bharat 2047, Gadkari also highlighted that the Ministry of Highways currently holds assets worth around ₹15 lakh crore, which can be monetised.
He noted that land acquisition, along with forest and environmental clearances, continues to delay major infrastructure projects. Earlier, the government had made it mandatory to acquire at least 90 per cent of land before starting work. However, he now suggested that even the “appointed date” for new highway projects should be issued only after full 100 per cent land acquisition is completed.
The appointed date marks the official start of construction, when all key clearances and land availability are in place.
Gadkari also criticised consultants responsible for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), saying they are largely responsible for poor-quality highway planning. He proposed that experienced retired officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should be encouraged to form firms and handle DPR preparation.
A DPR is a detailed blueprint for highway projects, covering technical design, financial planning, and execution strategy.
He further stressed that the construction sector has strong potential but must focus on reducing costs without affecting quality.
