Punjab, often referred to as the breadbasket of India, is witnessing a rising tide of discontent among its farming community. Unlike past protests centered around agricultural reforms, this time the unrest revolves around land acquisition for the National Expressway project. While the central and state governments present the project as a milestone in infrastructural development and national connectivity, many farmers see it as a systematic dispossession of their ancestral lands, carried out without fair compensation or a proper legal process. This article explores the complex realities behind the ongoing expressway construction in Punjab, highlighting the alleged procedural violations, lack of transparency, and the socio-economic ramifications of land acquisition without compensation.
The National Expressway project, part of the centrally sponsored Bharatmala Pariyojana, is aimed at improving road infrastructure across India. In Punjab, the expressway is planned to pass through several agrarian districts, including Ludhiana, Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, and Barnala. The project is expected to enhance trade and logistics, yet for many farmers, it has brought distress rather than development. Numerous reports suggest that agricultural land is being acquired with little to no prior notice to the farmers. In many cases, landowners claim they were unaware of the acquisition until heavy machinery arrived and construction began. This lack of communication and absence of a transparent compensation process has led to significant unrest in rural communities.
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR) was enacted to ensure fair treatment of landowners during acquisitions. It mandates social impact assessments, consent from affected communities, and market-based compensation. However, in the case of the expressway project in Punjab, authorities appear to be circumventing this legislation by invoking older laws such as the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or utilizing the National Highways Act, 1956. The use of these outdated laws allows for land to be taken without public consultation or comprehensive assessments. Under the National Highways Act, compensation is determined by a ‘competent authority’ without mandatory involvement of the landowner. This legal loophole is increasingly being exploited, effectively denying farmers the protections guaranteed under modern legislation.
Farmers from affected areas recount similar experiences—land marked without consent, bulldozers flattening crops, and construction proceeding despite objections. In many villages, compensation cheques have either not been issued or were issued at values far below the prevailing market rates. In certain instances, compensation was reportedly credited to incorrect or outdated bank accounts, further aggravating the situation. Farmers also claim that no compensation was offered for loss of trees, irrigation infrastructure, or ongoing agricultural activities. This not only results in financial losses but also impacts the long-term viability of their livelihoods. For small and marginal farmers, such losses are devastating and often irreparable.
In response to these grievances, several farmers’ unions including the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee have organized mass protests across affected regions. Their demands are straightforward: compensation at market value, recognition of agricultural assets beyond just land, proper rehabilitation for displaced families, and strict adherence to the LARR Act. Despite multiple demonstrations and memorandum submissions, the state and central governments have largely remained silent. Officials frequently cite “national interest” and project urgency to justify the ongoing work, but this has done little to address the concerns of the affected communities.
The Punjab government finds itself in a complex position. While it is under pressure to facilitate national infrastructure projects, it also bears the responsibility of protecting the rights of its citizens. Although Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has acknowledged irregularities in the land acquisition process and promised reviews, critics argue that the government’s response has been largely symbolic. There is a growing perception among farmers that the state government is acting in collusion with central agencies and private contractors, prioritizing project timelines over people’s rights. This perception is fueling further distrust and widening the rift between rural communities and the administration.
The consequences of forced land acquisition extend far beyond immediate financial losses. For most rural families, land is not merely an asset—it is a source of livelihood, cultural identity, and intergenerational stability. Losing land without compensation or legal recourse pushes families into economic vulnerability and social marginalization. Furthermore, the benefits of such expressway projects often bypass the local population. Critics argue that these roads primarily serve industrial and logistical interests, rather than the needs of the local agrarian economy. As one activist in Bathinda puts it, “These roads are built for trucks, not tractors.”
Infrastructure development is a vital component of economic progress, but it must not come at the expense of justice, equity, and transparency. The ongoing acquisition of farmland in Punjab for the National Expressway—without fair compensation or due legal process—raises serious concerns about governance and democratic accountability. Farmers are not against development; they are against being excluded from its benefits and made to bear its costs. If India aspires to be a truly inclusive and progressive nation, it must ensure that the voices and rights of its farmers are respected and protected. The path to development must not be paved over the livelihoods of those who feed the nation.