The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Survey of India to develop and validate a GIS-based land acquisition plan for upcoming national highway projects. This collaboration aims to leverage geospatial technology to enhance the land acquisition planning process and establish standard operating procedures. Under the agreement, the Survey of India will assist in creating standard operating procedures and preparing terms of reference for consultants who will develop detailed project reports for land acquisition. These reports will outline the technical specifications for the GIS-based land acquisition plans. Additionally, the agreement includes the development of a web portal to manage GIS-based land acquisition data and the utilisation of continuously operating reference stations (CORS) networks nationwide. The Survey of India, as the national mapping agency, will play a crucial role in this initiative. GIS-based land acquisition involves identifying suitable land parcels, determining their market value, managing the acquisition process, and assessing potential environmental impacts of land use changes. This approach aims to improve efficiency and accuracy in the land acquisition process for national highway projects. (Source:ET)