Petitioners, who are ten in number, are the owners of agricultural lands in Sy.Nos.554 and 611 of Panthangi Village, Choutuppal Mandal, Nalgonda District. Petitioners own different extent of lands as mentioned in a table in para-3 of the affidavit. This writ petition is instituted challenging the notification dated 02.12.2011 issued under Section 3G of the National Highways Act, 1956 (for short, ‘the Act, 1956’).

2. Heard Sri P.Venugopal, counsel for the petitioners, Sri. S.S.Varma, counsel for respondents 1 to 3, Government Pleader for respondent No.4 and Sri K.S.Gopala Krishnan counsel for respondent No.5.

3. The National High Way Authority of India (for short, the authority) has entrusted the work of widening the national high way no.9 from KMs 40.000 to KMs 221.000 on the Hyderabad - Vijayawada Section by four laning and subsequently to six laning thereon on the basis of Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) to the consortium comprising GMR Infrastructure Limited and Punj Lloyed Limited (5th respondent). As per the concession agreement, the 5th respondent is also required to build toll plazas.

4. It is the responsibility of the authority to acquire the lan