The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has requested the Haryana government to adopt a direct land purchase policy to speed up the implementation of major Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors. This move is expected to bypass the delays in the digitized land acquisition system and ensure that major infrastructure projects are not stalled.
The areas are focused on two major corridors: Sarai Kale Khan (SKK)-Panipat-Karnal and SKK-Gurugram-Bawal, which are expected to enhance the interchange in the National Capital Region (NCR). These are just a few examples from the grand plan to develop a rapid, efficient, and green regional transportation system. Though the project detail reports (DPR) have got the nod from the Haryana government and are under central government consideration, land acquisition seems to be the most critical step.
Limitations of the Current Land Acquisition Framework
At present, land acquisition takes place in line with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Though the act guarantees transparency and fair compensation of landowners, it has also been criticized for being a very lengthy process. It is a well-known fact that infrastructure projects like RRTS should be executed in a timely manner.
Any delay in such projects might increase the cost of the project, and that can have a negative impact on the efficiency of the project. The NCRTC has highlighted that depending on the current system for such projects may even not be a good idea and hence they have made a strong argument for alternatives.
Direct Purchase Model as an Efficient Alternative
Direct Purchase Model as an Efficient Alternative In order to address these issues, NCRTC has put forward a direct land purchase model as a solution. It entails buying land through mutual discussions with the landowners. In addition, its main objective is to make the processes simpler and less dependent on the long legal procedures.
The idea has been taken from the recent case of Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL), where a similar policy was also given the final nod by the Haryana government. In this scheme, land dealings are done with the help of the district-level committees which help in ensuring better coordination and quicker decisions. Preliminary signs show that this method may have greatly contributed to decreasing the delays and enhancing the overall productivity.
Scale and Importance of the Proposed Corridors
The two corridors of the RRTS ventures are amongst the biggest and most prestigious regional transportation projects in North India. The Delhi-Gurugram-Bawal corridor stretches to a length of approximately 93 km, with the major portion lying in the Haryana region.
On the other hand, the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal corridor stretches to a length of over 136 km, making it a major transportation corridor for the north districts. Collectively, the projects will span considerable tracts of land, with a mix of government and private land ownership. It is of paramount importance to ensure that the acquisition is done in a way that time and money are not squandered. Any hold-up at this stage is likely to result in the postponement of all the other phases of the project, like construction, system installation, and commissioning, amongst others.
Project Timeline and Implementation Plan
As per the updated DPR for the Delhi-Gurugram-Bawal corridor, the process of land acquisition might be completed by November 2027. During this stage, initial site surveys and detailed design will be conducted simultaneously so as to avoid any eventual hold-up in construction activities. Elevated track construction work is planned from August 2026 to August 2030, whereas underground work is anticipated to extend till early 2031.
Subsequently, track laying, signaling, and other system installations will be carried out, and testing is set for a period of May to October 2031. The project aims to have the corridor ready for operation by November 2031, laid out a comprehensive and well-timed schedule for implementation.
Key Advantages of a Faster Acquisition Approach
The introduction of a direct land purchase policy could bring several practical benefits to the project. These include:
- Faster completion of land acquisition processes
- Timely and transparent compensation for landowners
- Early initiation of construction activities
Beyond these immediate advantages, the policy could also reduce legal disputes and improve stakeholder cooperation, which are often major challenges in infrastructure development.
Government Review and Policy Outlook
The Haryana government has accepted the request put forward by the NCRTC and is currently reviewing the policy. The government has stated that the direct purchase policy has already proved to be effective in the metro rail project in Gurugram and hence can be implemented for the RRTS corridors too.
The town and country planning department is expected to submit a report on the feasibility and potential impacts of the policy, which will be a key factor in deciding the speed with which the projects will be implemented.
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