The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has started the process of acquiring land along National Highway No. 8 in Haryana and Rajasthan to expand the 225.6-km stretch between Gurgaon and Jaipur from four to six lanes.

Around 300 hectares of land in both states will be acquired. Eighty hectares fall in Haryana between Gurgaon and Shahjahan border.

The Rs 1,896.25 crore project is likely to be completed in June 2011.

This busy stretch of NH8 that passes through Kotputli has only four lanes at present. A major stretch of this road, 161 km, falls in Rajasthan while 64 km is in Haryana.

In Haryana, its starts from the 42nd Milestone where Gurgaon Expressway has a terminal toll plaza.

On the completion of this project, the NH-8 stretch from Rao Tula Ram Marg in Delhi and Jaipur will become signal free. But commuters will have to pay toll tax.

The project is coming up on a build, operate and transfer basis. The company will charge toll for 12 years.

The detail project report proposes an elevated stretch at Kotputli junction on NH-8. The rest of the stretch will be at ground level.

The entire process will take 2-3 months after which the land will be formally handed over to the concessionaire company.

Gurgaon deputy commissioner RK Kataria said a special committee would submit the land compensation rate with the NHAI soon.