(PER : HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MRS. JUSTICE SUNITA AGARWAL)

1. Pursuant to the order dated 19.08.2025, an affidavit dated 03.09.2025 has been filed by the Project Director, Project Implementation Unit – Surat of the National Highways Authority of india. It is categorically stated therein that the Central Government had entrusted the management of the entire stretch of National Highway No. 8 (NH-8), in so far as it is passes through the State of Gujarat to the National Highway Authority of India, in the year 1999. The Notification dated 04.02.1999 issued by the Central Government is placed on record.

2. Post entrustrment, the National Highway Authority started the work of strenghening of the then existing Four- Lane and widening of the same to Six-Lane highway, passing through Navsari Taluka, which had resulted in the publication of the acquisition notifications dated 25.03.2011 and 14.03.2012 under Section 3A and 3D of the National Highways Act, 1956 ; respectively.

3. It is categorically stated therein that the work of expansion of the National Highways in the aforesaid region had been completed way back in the year 2013. The Project Officer, National Highway categorically sta