T.S. Sivagnanam, J.

In this batch of Writ Petitions, the challenge is to the notification issued under the provisions of the National Highways Act, 1956, (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act’), proposing to acquire lands for the Salem-Chennai Eight Lane Highway Green Field Project. The project is part of the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’, a project conceived by the Central Government. The project is termed as “Green Field Project”, as it is a new road to be formed, while widening of existing highway is termedas ‘Brown Field Project’.

2. The petitioners before us can be categorised into two, namely, those whose lands are sought to be acquired for the proposed project and public interest litigants who are opposing the land acquisition proceedings. The authorised officer for the project is the District Revenue Officer of the concerned District through which the proposed project is to be implemented. The authorised officer/s issued notification under Section 3A(1) of the Act stating that the Central Government is satisfied that for a public purpose the lands owned by the petitioners are required for development of a Green Field Highway Project and accordingly, declared its intention to