53. Procedure to be followed when Highway Authority desires to close any highway permanently.
(1)Where in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 51 the Highway Authority desires to close down any highway or part thereof permanently. it shall give notice of its intention so to do in the Official Gazette. The notification shall also be published in at least two newspapers. one of which shall be in the Hindi language.(2)The notice shall indicate the alternative route, if any, which is proposed to be provided or which may already be in existence, and shall also invite objections, if any, to the proposal to be submitted within such time as may be specified.(3)The Highway Authority shall finalize its proposal to close down any highway or part of it after considering the objections, if any, received within the specified time and shall submit the final proposal to the State Government for approval together with such objections as may have been received against the proposal.(4)The State Government may either approve the proposal, with or without modifications, or reject it.(5)When the State Government has approved the proposal, it shall publish its order in the Official Gazette.(6)When the orders of the State Government have been published in the Official Gazette, the Highway Authority shall arrange for further publicity to be given to the orders in at least two newspapers one of which shall be in the Hindi language and the highway or part thererof shall then be closed.(7)Whenever any highway or any part thereof has been so closed, reasonable compensation shall be paid to every person who entitled otherwise than as a mere member of the public, to use such highway or part thereof as a means of access to or from his property and has suffered damage for such closure.
