The National Highways Act, 1956
An Act to provide for the declaration of certain highways to be national highways and for matters connected therewith.
Administered by. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways · Other Acts of 1956
Preamble
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAYS ACT, 1956*
ACT NO. 48 OF 1956
[11th September, 1956.] An Act to provide for the declaration of certain highways to be national highways and for matters connected therewith.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of the National Highways Act, 1956
Key Provisions:
1. Declaration of National Highways
o The Act empowers the Central Government to declare any highway or part thereof as a National Highway through notification in the Official Gazette.
o National Highways are highways considered necessary for national importance.
2. Responsibility of Central Government
o The Central Government is responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways.
o It may undertake construction, improvement, widening, and repair works either directly or through authorised agencies.
3. Acquisition of Land
o The Act provides a procedure for acquiring land required for the construction or development of National Highways.
o The Central Government may appoint competent authorities for land acquisition purposes.
4. Compensation for Acquired Land
o The Act provides for payment of compensation to landowners whose land is acquired for highway projects.
o The procedure for determining compensation and resolving disputes is prescribed under the Act.
5. Leasing and Transfer of Land
o The Central Government may acquire, hold, and manage land required for National Highways.
o It may also permit the use of highway land for specified purposes.
6. Control and Regulation of Highways
o The Act provides powers to authorities for regulating activities affecting National Highways.
o It enables measures for ensuring proper maintenance and safe use of highways.
7. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
o The Act was later supplemented by the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988, which established NHAI for the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways.
Sections
Type to filter. 22 sections.
- 1Short title, extent and commencement
- 2Declaration of certain highways to be national highways
- 3Definitions
- 3APower to acquire land, etc
- 3BPower to enter for survey, etc
- 3CHearing of objections
- 3DDeclaration of acquisition
- 3EPower to take possession
- 3FRight to enter into the land where land has vested in the Central Government
- 3GDetermination of amount payable as compensation
- 3HDeposit and payment of amount
- 3-ICompetent authority to have certain powers of civil court
- 3JLand Acquisition Act 1 of 1894 not to apply
- 4National highways to vest in the Union
- 5Responsibility for development and maintenance of national highways
- 6Power to issue directions
- 7Fees for services or benefits rendered on national highways
- 8Omitted
- 8APower of Central Government to enter into agreements for development and maintenance of national highways
- 8BPunishment for mischief by injury to national highway
- 9Power to make rules
- 10Laying of notifications, rules, etc., before Parliament
Schedules
This Act has 1 schedule. A schedule is published as a document of its own; the text is reproduced on its page where it has been read, and the document is mirrored here either way.
- THE SCHEDULE7,730 words
Amending Acts
3 Acts amending this enactment, passed by Parliament of India. The text above is the consolidated text as published.
- The National Highways (Amendment) Act, 199548 of 1995
- The National Highways (Amendment) Act, 199248 of 1993
- The National Highways (Amendment) Act, 197748 of 1977
Rules made under this Act
40 sets of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.
- The National Highways (Manner of deposition) Rules, 20182019
- Amendment to the principal rules of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 20082018
- Amendment to the principal rules of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 20082018
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the use of section of National Highways/Permanent Bridge/Temporary Bridge on National Highways) Rules, 1997,2018
- Amendment in the Notification bearing S.O. No. 3158 (E), dated 24.11.20152017
- Amendment to the principal rules of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 20082017
- Amendment vide G.S.R 950(E) dated 3rd December, 2010,G.S.R 15(E) dated 12th January, 2011 and G.S.R. 756(E) dated 12th October 20112017
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the use of section of National Highways/Permanent Bridge/Temporary Bridge on National Highways) Rules, 19972017
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the use of section of National Highways/Permanent Bridge/Temporary Bridge on National Highways) Rules, 19972017
- Amendmend, the Central Government, vide notification S.O. 2723(E) dated 17.08.20162016
- Amendment in the Notification bearing S.O. No. 2921(E), dated 17.12.20122016
- Amendment in the Notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways bearing S.O. No. 594(E), dated 08.03.20132016
- Amendment in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways number S.O. 1457(E) dated the 20th December 20032016
- Amendment notification S.O. 465(E) dated 26.02.2013 authorized National Highways Authority of India2016
- Amendment to the principal rules of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 20082016
- Amendment to the principal rules of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 20082016
- Amendment vide notification S.O. 422(E) dated 21.02.20132016
- Amendments in the notification bearing S.O. No. 946(E), dated 30th April 20122016
- Amendments the Central Government, vide notification S.O. 346(E), dated 4th February, 20152016
- Amendments, the Central Government by notification number S.O. 1097(E), dated 24th April, 20152016
- Amendments, the Central Government by notification under S.O. 536(E), dated 17th February, 20152016
- Amendments, the Central Government, notification S.O. 1709(E), dated 26th July, 20122016
- Gazette of India notification bearing SO 2696(E) dated 11.08.2016 for discontinuation of user fee collection2016
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the Use of Section of National Highways/Permanent Bridge/Temporary Bridge on National Highway) Rules, 19972016
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the Use of Section of National Highways/Permanent Bridge/Temporary Bridge on National Highway) Rules, 1997, notification S.O. 2070(E) dated 07.08.2009 and amendment notifications S.O. 2180(E) dated 22.06.2016 & S.O. No. 3098 (E) dated 30.09.20162016
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the use of section of National Highways/Permanent Bridge/Temporary Bridge on National Highways) Rules, 19972016
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the use of section of National Highways/Permanent Bridge/Temporary Bridge on National Highways) Rules, 19972016
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the use of section of National Highways/permanent bridge/temporary bridge on National Highway) Rules, 19972016
- National Highways (Collection of Fees by any person for the use of section of National Highways/permanent bridge/temporary bridge on National Highway) Rules, 19972016
- National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 as amended, the Central Government by notification of the Government of India vide S.O. No. 249 (E) dated 08.02.20122016
- National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 as amended, the Central Government by notification of the Government of India vide S.O. No. 249(E), dated 08.02.20122016
- National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008 published vide G.S.R. 838(E), dated 05.12.20082016
- Notification S.O. 2836(E) dated 19.12.2011 authorized National Highways Authority of India2016
- Notification of the Government of India vide S.O. No. 2405(E) dated 18.09.20092016
- amendment in the Notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways bearing S.O. No. 50 (E), dated 06.01.20152016
- Amendment bearing S.O. 2483 (E) dated 14.09.2015 in the principal notification published vide S.O. 3319(E) dated 30.12.20142015
- Amendment in the Notification No. S.O. 912(E), dated 21.04.20102015
- Amendment in the Notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways (Department of Road Transport and Highways) bearing S.O. No. 926(E), dated 6th April,20092015
- Amendment in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways number S.O. 1081 (E), dated the 30.04.20132015
- Amendment to the principal rules of the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 20082015
Related Acts
- The Road Transport Corporations Act, 195058 sections
- The Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 196225 sections
- The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988257 sections
- The National Highways Authority of India Act, 198837 sections
- The Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 200250 sections
- The Carriage by Road Act, 200722 sections
- The Indian Tolls Act, 18644 sections
- The Stage-Carriages Act, 186124 sections
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 22 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.