Surat: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a gazette notification approving the acquisition of 7.7812 hectares of land in Surat district for the widening and expansion of National Highway-56 (NH-56).

The land acquisition covers the NH-56 stretch between Km 208.3 and Km 240.3 and is part of the Centre’s road infrastructure development plan in Gujarat. According to the notification dated May 15, 2026, the land will be used for the construction, widening, maintenance, management and operation of the highway project under the Special Land Acquisition Officer, Branch-1, Surat.

The Ministry said the notification was issued under Section 3D of the National Highways Act, 1956, after completion of the required legal process. The Centre had earlier announced its intention to acquire the land through a notification issued in May 2025, and public notices were later published in newspapers inviting objections from affected parties.

Authorities stated that objections received under Section 3C of the Act were examined and resolved before the final report was submitted to the Central Government. Following the publication of the notification in the Official Gazette, the land will now vest with the Central Government free from all encumbrances.

The acquisition includes land parcels in Vadi village of Umarpada taluka, covering private agricultural land, non-agricultural land, government gauchar land and reserve forest areas.

The NH-56 expansion project is expected to improve road connectivity and ease traffic movement in the region. DeshGujarat